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[Peace Tiles] What's In Store for 2007

Posted to: Art + Technology + Participation in Development by Lars Hasselblad Torres (102), Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:55:04 PDT
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Tags: cabot mural-swaps vermont
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As the 2007-2008 school year begins I wanted to open a discussion here at <Ned> around what we might achieve together in 2007, as well as share with you some of what I've learned over the last year.

First, a big thanks to former O.net members (and now Nedsters!) Christina, Meron, Mark, Pash, Nancy, Eyeclectic, Anne Marie, Luke, nmw, Craig, Tony, Cynthia, Barbara, Nancy, Tom M, Janet and other O.netizens who have kept me inspired, helped to crispen my thinking on various aspects of this thing, as well as made various pieces of the PT experience a reality. You and many others keep this thing going. Thank you!

So, here goes, key lessons from 2006:

Brought the Peace Tiles project and process to two major international conferences, http://www.thataway.org and http://www.globalhealth.org. Was able to get feedback from both public health and dialogue professionals. Both experiences were very effective ways to raise the visibility of the PT aims and process, as well as learn more about how people use -- and would like to use -- the process.

Lesson #1: My "hunch" that PT can be a creative resource in large-group setting has been reinforced, and there is a solid revenue stream there.

Developed the Peace Tiles Kit as a way to provide an "off the shelf" way for people to participate in the PT experience. This year, the kits were used as our primary vehicle to engage people in World AIDS Day activities. From an objective standpoint, as many tiles were distributed through "kits" as were exhibited in World AIDS Day murals in 2005. At the same time, I think far fewer people were able to view the results of these kit-based tile-making activities than in 2005. As a result, I have learned that whatever kit distribution efforts take place need to be complemented by real exhibition opportunities.

Lesson #2: Kits are cool, people like them, and they move. The critical piece is bringing the price point down for individual tiles, and developing larger kits and a distribution mechanism for institutions such as schools.

Supported workshops in several locations for World AIDS Day. Though our workshop activities this year were not intended to be as intensive as they were in 2005, simply due to the amount of time and energy this activity requires, several very important workshops took place, for which I was able to provide some support through advice-giving etc. These include South Africa AIDS orphans, Costa Rican children and youth, and US youth in Princeton, NJ through their public library's community outreach programs.

Lesson #3: Workshops are one of the most exciting aspects of the PT experience and finding ways to make them happen, document their results, and exhibit the products is essential to the PT mission.

Supported one major exhibition of Peace Tiles produced in 2005 at the Armory Center for the Arts in Los Angeles. This effort enabled the tiles from the Global Fund to make their way to the US and serve as an anchor to brighten the spotlight on the issue of AIDS-affected youth in the developing world and ways young people can support one another.

Lesson #4: Related to #3, its not enough to produce tiles; need to be more proactive in assisting communities put them to good use. It won't necessarily happen otherwise.

Expanded the Peace Tiles network significantly, in particular in the US. In terms of the long-term aim of facilitating connections between resource-abundant and less-so places, this is a critical growth element. There are now over two dozen individuals across the US -- each of whom represents a church community, a CBO, a school or some other entity -- interested in and connected to the PT mission and action. While growth in the global south has been slower, a few new members -- notable Egypt and Costa Rica -- have been added as well.

Lesson #5: Networks are vital to overseas growth -- email lists etc. The US network can grow more independently eg via the website and internet searches.

So, what's in store for 2007?

Here are a few things I am thinking about. I'd love to know if you have ideas or plans in the works.

Curriculum: 2007 is the year to develop "issue guides" around hiv/aids, children in conflict, the urban experience, and possibly trash.

Trash: I want to get back to an area that I studied as an undergraduate, which is the way many children make their living off of dumps around the world. I am thinking that "trash tiles" -- artwork composed of recuperated items made by children at dumps -- complemented by photographs and their stories will be a powerful way to raise awareness of this issue. Less clear to me is what benefit this can be to young people, and need to figure that out. I aim to start that in 2007. I'll be doing alot of this work with Darlene Charneco and others at http://www.craftcycle.net

Summer of tiles: I am hoping to bring people together for 2-3 days of storytelling, technique-sharing, documentation, and strategizing around the Peace Tiles project in late July or mid-August. We'll open our home in Vermont to folks, and basically have a big collective art fest. At the end, I hope we can produce a) a compendium of neat techniques that will be part of a curriculum guide/online training resource, b) a mural to send somewhere to brighten a wall, and c) some headway toward a strategy for PT growth over the next 2-5 years. And some great memories of hikes and fun in northern Vermont.

Coordinated Swaps: This year the swaps have been too ad hoc. In 2007 I'd like Peace Tiles to provide support beyond the kits, to actually help schools and other CBOs to execute swaps among Peace Tiles network members as a way to make real their issue-based connections in the world. A mural comprised of their own and others' tiles will be a powerful way to do this.

More kits: I plan to at least double (from 25 to 50) the number of groups and individuals receiving kits that range in size from 2-8 tiles plus paper and crayons. Perhaps the range of materials included can change as well. <Ned> will be a great partner in this effort!

Documentation: 2007 will be the year to create some "how to" videos to stream online. Right now the site and downloadable materials are pretty text heavy. Though my video camera remains in Senegal with some youth, I am sure that I can find folks nearby to help document techniques and principles essential to effective workshops (dialogue) and tile-making (collage technique).

Hmmm, well that's what is on my mind. I'd love to learn how you might like to use to the PT process in 2007, or what potential areas for growth you think should be explored?

Comments « prev page [1] 2 next page »page 1

By Mark Grimes (181), Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:11:17 PDT
Comment feedback score: 0 +|-

Lars, your sense and ability to organize information and share what you've learned just always blows me away. Well done.

Among other things, I'd like to see a picture of one Peace Tile per week highlighted on the main index page of Ned, and a short story that goes with it, that then leads visitors to the Peace Tiles group inside Ned.

For the one or more <Ned> locations that exist, I'd like to have a Peace Tiles installation on the wall in each. And I'd like to have a monthly or quarterly Peace Tile event at each location, or at an event that is near the location.

Well, a couple thoughts in any event.

Nice to see you settling in and back online.

ned.com

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[Peace Tiles] What's In Store for 2007

Comments « prev page [1] 2 next page »page 1

Comments « prev page [1] 2 next page »page 1