PEACE of ART


	About PEACE of ART PEACE of ART, Inc. is a non-profit organization created and founded by the artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian. The project began with the creation of the Peace of Art collection, a group of twenty-one paintings each representing a human concern, such as hunger, homelessness, deportation. This collection of art work set the stage to bring awareness to global human concerns; to encourage discussion and problem solving; to promote appreciation for peace and the belief that we are capable of attaining such goal in the 21st century. Although the exhibit reflects on the artist's own experience and his commitment to peace, it transcends the individual experience in its reflection and analysis, it examines the problems and attempts to foster understanding. The Peace of Art collection is intended to be a traveling art exhibit. Since Peace of Art was launched in September 2003, at the Terjenian Thomas Gallery of the Armenian Library and Museum of America, Watertown, Massachusetts, there were several Peace of Art exhibits throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Peace of Art was exhibited at Brockton Public Library, Brockton, MA; Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA; Gallery Z, Providence, RI; Stoneham Free Library, Stoneham, MA; Grand Concourse, South Station, Boston, MA; Boston City Hall, Boston, MA; Pollard Memorial Library, Lowell, MA; Chelmsford Public Library, Chelmsford, MA; Cambridge City Hall, Cambridge, MA; Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; Mogan Cultural Center, Lowell, MA; Main Gallery, Armenian Library and Museum of America, Watertown, MA; Newton City Hall, Newton, MA; Akillian Gallery, Massasoit College, Canton, MA; DCR Gallery, Lawrence Heritage Museum, Lawrence, MA; Medford City Hall, Medford, MA; Lynn Public Library, Lynn, MA. Thousands of people from different social, economic and ethnic backgrounds have seen the Peace of Art exhibits, from mayors, senators, state representatives, educators, social workers, doctors, attorneys, construction workers, secretaries, unemployed persons, students, retired citizens, disabled persons. People from all walks of life have come together and agreed on the themes presented in the art work. At the Grand Concourse South Station alone 125,000 people saw the exhibit on a daily basis for the length of the exhibit. This is a new way of connecting people through the universal language of art with a shared vision of peace independent of political or religious denominations. The impact has been far reaching from testimonials of visitors. From a mother's testimony that the exhibit of black and white drawings,


	was an affirmation for her child, who only draws in black and white, and was reprimanded by his teacher for not using colors, to a woman who wrote that she was so touched by the exhibit, that she saw art for the first time and what a revelation it was. The exhibits have touched politicians as well, from a city councilor who stated that the exhibit was needed and timely considering the current historical times, to a state representative who declared that politicians should have the art work in their offices to remind them of their obligations. Peace of Art exhibits have succeeded in moving visitors emotionally and intellectually through the different aspects of the human condition. Beyond the positive feedback provided by visitors, Peace of Art, Inc., has moved toward seeking greater participation from visitors and the community. In October 2005, Peace of Art was exhibited at the Akillian Gallery, Massasoit College in Canton, and students and faculty were invited to participate through a written essay competition. Several groups visited the exhibit with their professors as part of their class work. A group of students further participated by submitting written essays as part of a class assignment, and the students who wrote the best essays received the first Peace of Art Awards. Peace of Art, Inc., intends to continue with a written essay program in schools and libraries where the art work is presented. In September 2004, Peace of Art was exhibited at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in conjunction with the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, Adopt-a-Minefield Project and art work was riffled off to raise funds for the project. Peace of Art, Inc., intends to network with other organization of human concern to bring awareness to human condition and to raise funds to address the problems. In the springs of 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Peace of Art, Inc., sponsored the peace message on the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Billboards in Watertown, MA calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Peace of Art, Inc., will continue to engage the participation of the host community and conduct lecturers addressing the theme chosen as the focal point of each exhibit.