Our Goals for the WASHINGTON DC PEACE MURAL EXHIBITION

Nov. 29, 2008 - Jan. 30, 2009

The Washington DC Exhibition is the Foundation's inaugural effort. The aim is to bring Huong’s Peace Mural to the nation’s capital where it can evoke wide civic response through the power of art that stimulates dialogue, education, and creative nonviolent action for peace; But more than simply an exhibition of art, the Peace Mural is interactive and participatory as it calls forth from viewers a response through reflection, dialogue and action. Visitors are invited to sign on for peace by adding their own thoughts and comments to panels scattered throughout the mural.

The exhibition is accompanied with a series of educational events, artistic presentations and public actions. Most of these sidebar events take place on site at the exhibition and are sponsored by a variety of local partner organizations. The mural is both deeply spiritual and politically reflective as it calls forth citizen and community response. But most of all, it resonates a challenge and hope for peace in ways that only art can do. It inspires, it disturbs, and evokes personal responsibility. The Peace Mural is an expression of “people’s art” as it informs and shapes civil society and stimulates vibrant participatory democracy.

Other Goals of the DC Exhibition:
(1) To collaborate with local artists in the DC community by inviting qualified applicants to share their “art for peace” during the exhibition and to take part in seminars that address the role of art in advancing peace and social justice; efforts will be made to invite visual, performing and literary artists to be part of the program schedule throughout the exhibition;

(2) To promote education for peace and conflict transformation by creating a venue for DC area universities and public policy research organizations to showcase their programs and co-sponsor collaborative educational events, receptions, symposia, and forums on diverse themes impacting peacemaking and conflict transformation in public policy;

(3) To support advocacy organizations that advance public policy initiatives that illustrate the dynamics of an emerging “culture of peace;”

(4) To stimulate collaboration among peace and justice activists in metropolitan DC;

(5) To engage citizens across diversefaith traditions and to promote interfaith dialogue for peace;

(6) To engage the multi-ethnic community of metropolitan DC in an expression of cross- cultural diversity, to demonstrate that the challenge of peacemaking calls forth a universal response;

(7) To especially reach out to young people to develop the next generation of peacemakers;

(8) To coordinate the exhibition with concurrent conferences, peace actions, and related events that may take place at that time in DC, and that reflect themes of peace and justice;

Plans are underway to bring the Peace Mural to New York City in the Fall of 2009, followed by a tour of universities and communities across the U.S. in 2010. As a public charity, the Foundation depends on contributions to support its activities. Please help us carry this message forward by making a contribution today. You can do that right now with your credit card at this secure DONATE NOW button on HOME PAGE. Checks, payable to the Peace Mural Foundation, Inc., can be mailed to: Peace Mural Foundation, Inc., 7900 S.W. 77 Avenue, Miami FL 33143 , huong@huong.org.