ArtPrize is such a large platform that I definitely knew I wanted my art to convey a message, and an important one. It started with a trip around the world. I lived in Europe, Asia and Africa for almost three years and when I came home I was a different person; I had a new perspective on life. A lot of what I saw was beautiful and some of it was harsh, but the overwhelming message was that we are all the same beneath the surface. We have different lifestyles, different cultures, different religions, but we are all human beings. We need to understand that we are all just a small part of a larger whole and we need to learn to live together peacefully. That’s why at the heart of my art piece there is the message of “Coexist”. It blends together different religious symbols and those of peace and love. The rest of the photographs show different religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism) and different lifestyles (nomadic, rural, urban). I included a photograph of Grand Rapids to show that we too need to be a part in spreading this important message of world peace and tolerance, we can’t simply let others do the work for us. So if you are able, please come to Grand Rapids and check out all the art in this year’s ArtPrize. Each piece is a work of love and labor by the artists and knowing that people are seeing their art and hearing their message is an absolutely amazing experience. You can see my piece, “Coexistence”, at the Ottawa Tavern along with a lot of other great artists until October 10th, but voting ends September 30th so make your votes count! http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/49142
Nine photographs taken during my travels around America, Europe, Asia and Africa representing the need for worldwide coexistence and tolerance for all people, regardless of religious or cultural differences.
Coexist: The center and focal piece showing graffiti written on a wall. The symbols represented are: the Islamic Moon, Judaic Star, Christian Cross, peace sign and heart (love) on the dot of the letter “i”.
The other eight photographs (starting in the upper left and going clockwise):
Dome of the Rock: One of the holiest Islamic sites, the “Rock” refers to the Foundation Stone, an important holy item for Muslims and Jews
Nomadic Berber Tribe Tents: Taken during my stay with a nomadic tribe in the Sahara, we see that not all cultures are similar to our own
A River View: A shot of Grand Rapids that represents us and our role in promoting world peace and love for all groups
Cross on the Sidewalk: A symbol of Christianity painted on a random sidewalk in a bustling city.
Lady in the Market: A photograph that represents me, the artist. I took this photo the moment I met the shopkeeper who looked exactly like my grandmother. Even in a very distant place from Grand Rapids, we can find people like ourselves. It is so important to appreciate the rural people who plant and harvest our food. Too often we simply go into a supermarket and purchase food without stopping to think where it is coming from.
Western Wall: An extremely important Judaic monument and one of the remnants of the wall that surrounded the Temple.
Blue Door: Peace begins with knowing and acknowledging our shared history. This door is from an originally Jewish neighborhood who painted the entire city center blue, it is located in the heart of an Arabic city in Morocco.
Monk: A Buddhist Monk asks for alms on the street of an East Asian metropolis. Unexpectedly the modern is confronted by the traditional. Do we avoid things that make us question ourselves? Do we become angry with them? Or do we try to understand and give them respect?
Tags: artprize, artprize 2010, coexistence, culture, grand rapids, Photography, Photos, religious, tolerance, world peace
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