Downtown Dallas Library Student Art Exhibit

J. Erik Jonsson Dallas Central Library (downtown) exhibits DIAMONDS from DUST: 152 portraits of Great Peacemakers. The collage portratraits were created by young artists in the MasterPEACE program of Today Marks the Beginning. The exhibit runs March through April with a special reception March 28, 10 - noon.

Students in two Dallas elementary schools and three afterschool programs created collage portraits of global peacemakers, resulting in this inspiring exhibit. The students were all participants in the MasterPEACE program of Today Marks the Beginning. The exhibit also includes 12 photographs by Dallas photographer John Katz, who captured the process.

Participating schools were Parish Episcopal and L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary. The three afterschool programs were at Whitney Young Elementary; J.L. Long Middle School and S.S. Conner Elementary. These afterschool lessons were done in conjunction with the Thriving Minds program of Big Thought.

The curriculum of MasterPEACE: Young Artists Making a Kinder World, focuses on combining peacemaking skills of non-violence with art experiences for the children. The particular lesson that inspired these portraits is titled "Great Peacemakers Like You and Me." The children were asked to make something out of nothing, just like these heroes who tackled extremely difficult situations. In the portraits, a bottle top could become an eye. A straw could become a nose; a piece of discarded jewelry, a hat.

All are invited!

Rwanda & Gardens of Forgiveness

A note from Diane Hosey, who went to Rwanda with Nancy Rebal, to present Stations Two for the 15th anniversary of the genocide:

Jean Paul Ntakirutimana is instrumental in making way for the Gardens of Forgiveness in Kigali. He opened his house to our entire group of about 40 people where his wife and her friends prepared dinner for us. Followed by singing and dancing of course! One of the things I have found in my travels is how openly people from other countries eagerly invite people into their homes and how honored they are to have you as their guest. This is true of Latin American cultures as well. Quite a difference from us independent Americans.

Gardens of Forgiveness, Rwanda

Our friends who went to Rwanda with STATIONS TWO met many incredible people. Diane Hosey wrote me in an e-mail about Julie Moir Messervy-Master Gardener: She has some great pictures of Rwanda and a shout out to Today Marks the Beginning on it (good on her). I invite you to review her site and watch her video presentation on her design with Yo Yo Ma and the Toronto Music Garden. Though done some years ago you will get a true flavor of her personality and the spiritual nature of her work. She was a joy to be around and between her and Nancy they “worked every room they were in”! And I thought I was high energy! Julie was invited by Lyndon to view sites for a Forgiveness Garden in Rwanda.

Click on: A Garden of Forgiveness in Rwanda - The Home Outside - JMMDS Landscape Design Blog — Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio