September 21, 2013
The Art Galleries of Florida Gulf Coast University Joins Hundreds of Cultural Institutions World Wide in Peace Initiative
On Friday, September 21, 2012, The Art Galleries of Florida Gulf Coast University will join hundreds of cultural institutions worldwide, from Australia to Zimbabwe, supporting films4peace to celebrate World Peace Day—an international UN day of ceasefire, and a day for individuals, organizations and countries to demonstrate acts of peace.
films4peace, curated by Mark Coetzee, is an annual short film commission by PUMA.Peace. It features 21 of today’s most innovative artists visually interpreting the subject of peace. These art films will be released at cultural venues globally, online on World Peace Day on 21 September 2012 on a dedicated films4peace website, through social networking and video sharing sites and blogs amongst others.
Live screenings will accompany the online release at major museums globally, including the Bass Museum of Art (Miami, USA) and the Design Museum (London, UK); in public urban spaces, such as the City of Barcelona (Spain) and the Laumeier Sculpture Park (St. Louis, USA); educational institutions, such as Florida Gulf Coast University, and youth leadership conferences, such as the H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City Art Institute (USA) and the 2012 One Young World summit (Pittsburgh, USA).
The films include 35 mm live action, experimental animation and fine art. The films are 30- to 90-seconds to facilitate online as well as live screenings. None of the films are language specific. The artists were selected for the quality and scope of their work and their sensitivity in interpreting the theme.
“This is a non-partisan event devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples...with an artists’ interpretation. As we move further in the development of course offerings related to trans-media, digital media, and video, the gallery wishes to support students’ exploration of the medium through specific subject matter. Joining with films4peace made perfect sense,” says Anica Sturdivant, Interim Director of the Art Galleries of Florida Gulf Coast University.
“Artists confront us with the challenges that face us at this time,” said Mark Coetzee, films4peace curator. “films4peace are both disturbing and inspiring, responsive to the reality of our time but they also ask us to be responsible for our actions. PUMA.Peace wishes to contribute to making the world a better place. A world that is safer, more peaceful and more creative. We are honored to have The Art Galleries of Florida Gulf Coast University join us in this important initiative.”
Curator Mark Coetzee has invited 21 artists to create 17 new works:
Janet Biggs (USA)
Ergin Cavuşoğlu (Bulgaria)
Magali Charrier (France)
Gregory Crewdson and Costanza Theodoli-Braschi (USA and UK)
Yang Fudong (China)
Tom Gran and Kayleigh Gibbons (UK)
Max Hattler (Germany)
Isaac Julien (UK)
Peterson Kamwathi (Kenya)
Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy (Ireland)
Nandipha Mntambo (Swaziland)
Michael Nyman (UK)
Noriko Okaku (Japan)
Jacco Olivier (Netherlands)
Bill Porter (UK)
Levi van Veluw (Netherlands)
Hank Willis Thomas and Terence Nance (USA)
In keeping with the spirit of the commission, these films will be gifted to the world, within public domain and screening cost free, as tools for peace. By releasing these short films as broadly as possible, on multiple live and virtual platforms, the aim is to effect positive social change and broaden the discussions around peace globally.
