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AFHR
Human Rights Art Gallery
The opening of the two day human rights
event in New York, NY began with a spectacular art exhibition in Soho at
the Westwood Gallery where 26 artists exhibited their art on Human
Rights.
Shown
below are some of the gifted artists' work and
portions of their essay on that work as it relates to a specific human
right or rights. These and more were displayed at the opening night
reception and Art Exhibition on Human Rights.
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Pomm Hepner
"We Believe in Peace"
Article 30
We have a right to a fair
and free world where we can enjoy and protect our rights at home
and anywhere in the world. The sky is free to all, covering us
all, and the flags represent the community of nations
encompassing our international and national identities.
The sea touches us and is
a bridge between the individual and the global community.
The children are the
future and are envisioning all countries enjoying these rights
while maintaining their own points of view.
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Michael Doven
"FREEDOM"
Article 30
For me, there is no Human
Right that is not represented in this photo. The hope, dream,
and fulfillment for some of any and all of the Human Rights
exist in the symbols of the Liberty Statue, the torch, a new
land based on those precepts, a river and a boat that can lead
you there.
The towers, once on the on
the horizon and no longer there represent the part of this that
is fragile and vulnerable to discrimination and the abuses of
all Human Rights that can occur from lack of knowing or
practicing them.
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Jim Meskimen
"Wind In Iraq"
Article 3
This piece was first
exhibited at the Johnson Art Collection Gallery in Los Angeles
in 2004 in a show called Light, Rhythm and Beingness.
This image was drawn in
charcoal from a photograph taken a day after the start of the
invasion of Iraq by Coalition forces. In war, human rights are
suspended, no matter how "careful" or "surgical" the combat is
designed to be. Innocent people are continually at risk in
modern war, and Human Right #3, The Right to Life, is one that
gets trampled first.
I believe that when
artists remind the public about the devastating effect of war on
human rights, they are imparting a lasting and important
message.
To strive for a world
without war is one of the most noble causes I can imagine, and
the most vital.
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Debbie Arambula
"Kiss of Peace~ Goddess
Series"
Articles 28 & 29
As an artist and mother of
three I see the rapid decrease of human rights. Each of us holds
the right to breathe life into a free and fair world. In our
hands lies the right to our responsibilities for protecting our
children, world unity and peace.
Inspired by the political,
yet spiritual voice of the pre-raphaelite sister hood of artists
in the late 1800's and in light of the current world events the
original piece was inspired by September 11. How appropriate
that this butterfly will be released in New York. My Kiss of
Peace is a simple message of hope & peace in dedication to the
United Nations for Human Rights.
*Original work is 8' x 4'
Reverse-painted Glass Painting on Plexiglas*
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Randy South
"Trick Cyclist"
Article 5
No one shall be subjected
to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. The world is in darkness. Torture, degrading
treatment and punishment are widespread; used by
pseudo-scientists through authoritarian means at the behest of
international drug companies and suppressive governments
degrade, enslave and diminish the spiritual awareness of man.
Their goal CONTROL.
Their motivation WEALTH.
The only choice is to
enlighten every man, woman and child of Earth that they have the
human right to be free.
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Gay Ribisi
"Head Above Water "
Article 30
The fact that human beings
actually have rights is a concept about which not too many
people are aware. And even if they are remotely aware of them…
they seem to have forgotten how important they are…these rights.
This piece, to me,
represents the struggle that mankind endures by not knowing
about and not insisting upon his rights as a human being. When
one begins to learn about these rights and begins to pursue
them, it gives him the strength to hold his head above water.
And when he has insisted upon and has been granted these
rights…he will have the strength and hope to reach for and
conquer his own goals…which, of course, he has the innate right
to do always.
I truly believe in making
people more aware of their rights as a human being.
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Dave Tourje
"SCORCH (the red hot
minute)"
Article 28
The subject figure in this
work can be seen running with a star, having somehow snatched it
from the "sky" - the figure himself engulfed in flames. It
abstractly speaks to the seizure of a moment, in otherwise
intense circumstances - of taking opportunity in reaching for
something impossible and valuable, regardless of risk.
In order to even allow for
this possibility, one needs the basic underpinning and
environment of FREEDOM - freedom of expression, of choice, of
thought. Freedom to reach for ANYTHING.
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Kasia Pawluskiewicz
"Little Birds on a Big
Wire"
These points are in
relation to the following articles of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights:
Article 1
All human beings are born
free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a
spirit of brotherhood.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected
to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such
interference or attacks.
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Jule Rotenberg
"Giselle"
Article 3
The right to life means
having the freedom to exist without suppression. My sculpture,
"Giselle," embodies this tenet exuding the unbridled energy to
move and express oneself without constraint; to dance. But this
right can be tenuous. "Giselle's" dance exists for only a
fleeting moment, sustained by physical strength and personal
will. As for the right to life, only the strength of our
integrity and our willingness to fight for freedom while
granting freedom for others can guarantee that.
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Laury Dizengremel
"Helping Hand"
Article 29
"Helping Hand", by
award-winning sculptor Laury Dizengremel, exemplifies the duty
mankind has to help those in need. People who are physically or
mentally ill have the same rights as those who are able-bodied.
All too often, these rights are swept aside...
With my art (small-scale
or monumental) I try to impact viewers and communicate a
message. Here, a strong hand calls an absent-minded person back
to reality and offers real, effective help.
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Ron Anderson
"Escape From Suppression"
Articles 1-30
The three dimensional empty straightjacket is incorporated into
the painting of Planet Earth where all humanity resides. Does it
imply that humanity is enslaved or does it imply that humanity
has been released from suppression because the straightjacket is
empty? When you view this from a distance, the jacket isn’t
easily visible – and so is suppression often disguised and not
easily seen. The decision to be free from the vested interests
that would enslave humanity for their own purposes lies with
every individual’s understanding of The Declaration of Human
Rights and their resolve to make it a reality.
It encompasses all articles of the Declaration and addresses the
overall intent of The Declaration of Human Rights, which is to
let all men be free to realize, without arbitrary restrictions,
their full potential.
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Kathy Jakobsen
"Woody Guthrie Grand
Canyon"
Article 19
Woody Guthrie (1912-1967)
lived during the hard times of the Depression and The Dust Bowl.
After studying his life I was very impressed with his
unquenchable spirit and creativity and how he used it to help
others. To quote his daughter Nora (from the children's book
This Land is Your Land, "Woody started writing songs about the
migrants - their hard luck and courage....He sang for factory
workers trying to get better working conditions and higher
pay....He always spoke out for people of all colors and races,
especially the poor... "
To quote Woody, "Stick up
for what you know is right...This land was made for you and me."
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