Blending Borders: The Art Of Peace

“Blending Borders: The Art of Peace” is an international art program encouraging children to envision a peaceful world where there is no fear of landmines. Landmines affect an estimated 70 countries where thirty percent of the victims are children under the age of 15. Everyday children, adults and animals live with the risk of stepping on these harmful remnants of war.

The goal of Blending Borders is to obtain art from children living in mine-affected countries for exhibit and exchange with children from mine-free countries. The exchange of art will give a voice to children living with landmines within their borders, allowing them to share their hopes for safety and peace. In return, student artists will have a chance to express their concerns for those that live beyond their borders with the daily threat of landmines.

The art will be exchanged among participating national and international schools. There will also be a traveling exhibit of selected artwork displayed at various community, school and Roots of Peace events, such as the children’s exhibit, “Visions of a Mine Free World: Children Walk in Peace,” at two World Environmental Day events in June of 2005.  See photos of art from exhibits.

Our hope is that as students create a personal expression about the global landmine issue. Through participation in “Blending Borders,” the artists will discover that they can take action and make a difference in the world.

A Call for Submissions

Participants: Students ages 5-18 are invited to submit an individual work of art that expresses their vision of children walking in peace.

Theme: Visions for a Mine Free World: Children Walk in Peace
Student artists express their hopes and concerns for those that live beyond our borders with the daily threat of landmines. Our vision is big at Roots of Peace. We envision a mine free world, safe for all. Our hope is that as students from many countries share about the global landmine issue through participation in “Blending Borders,” they will discover they too can take action to make a difference in the world.

Guiding Questions for Inspiration:
1. What sorts of limitations do the presence of landmines impose on children?
2. How would life be different if the landmines were removed?
3. What would a safe and peaceful world look like in a mine free world?
Examples: children walking to school and playing on playgrounds/soccer fields safely, children helping each other, playing together and with their pets safely.

If your school is participating in the Penny Campaign, draw or paint a picture of how your pennies will help the children of Afghanistan or the elephants in Angola.

Guidelines for Submission:
1. Please submit all artwork to the Roots of Peace Office. The Roots of Peace address is 1299 Fourth St., Suite 200, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA.
2. We recommend that the dimensions do not exceed 18x24 inches (45.7x61 centimeters).
3. Please use sturdy artist paper. Suggested materials/mediums: watercolor, oil, acrylics, colored pencils, pastels, India ink, tempera paint, and collage. The artist may include poetry or writing about visions of peace with the art if inspired.
4. Please include the following information on the back of the artwork: Full name, Age,          Title of Art Piece, School Name, City, Date
5. Please clearly label the submission package with the name of the school and art teacher.
6. Please do not write on the front of the artwork or use ballpoint or metallic pens and please try to avoid tears, folds and staples.
7. All artwork will become the property of Blending Borders and Roots of Peace and will be eligible for exhibition at selected sites or virtually on the Roots of Peace web site.

For more information contact Cristi McCabe, Coordinator of the Blending Boarders program at Cristi@rootsofpeace.org, (415) 455-8008.