Statement on the creation of Peace Protocols

I t is unusual to find in the world political arena a concept and initiative that I can support and present through this exhibition project that I have called "Peace Protocols" The inspiration came while on the return portion of a world journey. I had just left from helping in the Tsunami Relief project through Amritanandmayi's Math {ashram} in the southern Indian state called Kerala in the town called Amritapuri. I was on the way home passing through Kyoto and Hiroshima and that was where this idea got started.

There are many moments for me when inspiration strikes, but only few of these inspirations surface tangibly enough, to get constructed into a formal art project. This is one.

While in Japan, I had the opportunity to experience the Kyoto Peace Museum. It was an exhibition space filled with the documented horrors of WW2's atomic explosions and the after-effects upon the people of Japan and its Korean work force.

Kyoto has taken a lead in the world political arena for peace. It is often exemplified in discussions and noted by its ambitious attempts at correcting world problems of environmental abuses and violence. It has become a cognate itself for peace as exampled by the terms 'Kyoto initiatives' or 'Kyoto accords'.
While in the museum, I spoke with the director of community affairs and commented on how important their exhibition is, noting unfortunately, the gloomy nature of it leaves one without any positive direction for hope and personal involvement or at least with a sense of direction that an individual can take. She pointed out that on the upstairs second floor, off of the main exhibit, there is a display addressing my concerns. Eagerly, I went to find a rim of hope on this container of gloomy despair.
It was there that I found a wall panel stating the "Hague Agenda for Peace for the 21st Century". I copied it down verbatim; immediately deciding to construct an exhibition utilizing students, their art work, fellow performers, other artists and activists and to bring this important message to our somewhat sheltered lifestyles in the New York / New Jersey communities.

I did arrange to create an installation at the Nancy Dryfoos gallery at Kean University. It was formally shared from December 1 to January 3, 2006. It was further developed as a benefit exhibition to raise funds for "Heifer International" www.Heifer.org. It is an exemplar non-profit organization with many accolades of converting cash gifts into a sustainable, shared and ongoing gift of livestock to poor families in the Americas.
Wow, overall it worked and continues here on this web site.

Personal incentives and ambitions carried the goals of community spirit to folks in need.

During the exhibition, I sat and gave audience to the intentions and aspirations by discussing the text of the "... peace initiative..."and by having musical jam sessions, and performer / friends / artists portray the ideas that they felt close to, e.g. children as soldiers, gender inequalities, economic imbalances, environmental dangers, un detonated and still existing land mines, starvation, religious leadership issues, children as soldiers, and so forth. You get the idea. The message's intent and direction were clear, I added supportive fellowship. Kean University's web site will keep the message on-going and hopefully spread further the action of "peace protocols".