Sir

May I use this space to burst into a song of praise and thanksgiving to all the artists within ­ and some outside ­ the Wanganui community who so generously gave works of art to the fundraising auction at the Polytechnic Quay School of Fine Arts on Saturday 25 August; 72 marvelous pieces in all: glass works, pottery, terracotta figures and figurines, photographs, collages, drawings, paintings, butterfly wings and more.

A most sincere and heartfelt thank you Suzanne MacAulay, Nicola O’Brien, Teresa Goodin, Lyn Hurst, Lari Steward and Aaron Laurence for arranging this overwhelmingly successful event, raising more than $10 000 for the building of the Wanganui Culture of Peace work of art, designed by the visionary artist Ross Mitchell-Anyon. Thank you also, John Blaikie, for keeping the bidding going for almost two hours. The Multicultural Women’s Group and others provided the most delicious and plentiful plates of finger-food for which we were all demonstrably grateful. I would also like warmly to thank all those un-named helping hands who have no doubt contributed to making the evening such a remarkable and memorable event.

The Wanganui Culture of Peace project has come a long way sine its inception (September 2000), thanks to all the community members, young ones in particular, who have participated in the hand casting process with Ross and his helpers. To-date about 3 thousand hand casts have been made. The Wanganui District Council has throughout this time demonstrated their continuing support. The Polytechnic graphic design department is also to be thanked for all their voluntary support, in particular Michael Wong, for his wonderful 3-dimensional imageries which proved immensely helpful in so many ways.

On the 18 September a dawn blessing will take place at Queens Park where the sculpture is to be built, and the next stage of the work can begin, thanks to the layout plans made by master builder Jamie O’Leary and co-workers.

With all this generosity and spirit of cooperation the Culture of Peace work of art will be given not only a magnificent body but also a beautiful soul.

Gita Brooke, Peace Through Unity

Transcript of a luncheon 'talk' given to the President and Members of the Rotary introducing the Wanganui Culture of Peace project.
 

 
Mr President and all Rotary Members,

Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity to tell you about the Wanganui Culture of Peace project.

Just to give you the shortest possible background for Peace Through Unity: It was founded in Sweden in 1975, a few years after Anthony and I met. It is a Charitable Trust now based here in Wanganui, administered by the Public Trust. As a socalled non-governmental organization with UN accreditation it is perhaps natural that many of the projects and initiatives we have been ­ and are ­ involved in reflect some of the issues which the UN member states are discussing and wishing to draw attention to by inviting public debate and people involvement.

Since 1982 Peace Through Unity has been networking information of this kind through a quarterly publication we call Many to Many with emphasis on what people throughout the world are doing to help fellow human beings and the environment. At the moment Many to Many reaches people in some 50 countries.

But it is our latest project I really would like to tell you about. It was inspired by two UN resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in November 1998 and September 1999, proclaiming the year 2000, the International Year for a Culture of Peace, and 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. These resolutions acknowledge that without the will and the heart of both governments and the peoples of the world, such a peaceful and non-violent world community would simply remain yet another nice, but lifeless sentiment and unfulfilled dream. The resolutions therefore appeal to people within all walks of life to work together with each other and their governments to bring into being an enduring worldwide culture of peace.

So, through the process of a Culture of Peace Sculpture Design Competition for the Wanganui region and with the cooperation of the Sarjeant Gallery and three judges, Ross Mitchell-Anyon’s "Hand Span" was selected out of, I think, about 20 other entries to the competition. This selection took place at the opening of the exhibition in the Sarjeant Gallery September last year, which also was a multi-cultural celebration.

Anthony and I were absolutely delighted with the judges’ choice. With its double-spiral pathway between walls which will be covered with named hand casts from community members of all ages, it will be a constant reminder that we walk this earth together; and that we need to reach out across all the boundaries, whether age, gender, cultural, racial or any other kind of visible or invisible borders we can think of. That beyond all these differences which should always be respected and celebrated ­ oneness prevails. Based on such a foundation a true culture of peace can, I sincerely believe, come about.

A committee has been set up with Ross, Peace Through Unity and Council representatives, to oversee the completion of the structure. We will than continue to meet once a year to assess maintenance needs and possible additions, such as lighting and plantings. We are hoping, once this 20 m wide and 3 m high work of art is completed, it will become a meeting place for picnics and come-togethers, and perhaps even be used for personal or public ceremonies and events. A supporter of the project, Suzanne MacAulay ­ head of the Polytechnic Quay School of fine Arts, calls it an environmental sculpture and says that it is interactive in the truest sense of experiencing a living art work, and Bill Milbank, Sarjeant Gallery, in his letter of support says "one can see it as a site of contemplation, a place of memory, inclusion, involvement and celebration."

The Wanganui District Council has been most supportive of this project and has given formal permission for the structure to be built on the area in Queens Park just opposite the Alexander Library. And through the various handcasting events in Ross’ workshop, schools and public places which have been well covered by media publicity, there is already quite a lot of awareness of and support for this project within the community. We hope to publish a comprehensive report of the whole process involved in the preparation and completion of this culture of peace work of art, including photos, letters and acknowledgements. Applications for funds have been made to various trusts and we are hopeful for some positive responses.

But of course there’s no denying that we are here today to ask for your cooperation in

whatever way you may be willing and able to give it. Thank you.

Gita Brooke
19 March 2001