Through creativity and community, we can change the world.

PEACE RISES

Tying in with this year’s effort, the theme for The Peace Project’s 2011 Call for Artists is “Peace Rises.” This international collaborative art competition and exhibition aims to connect peace-minded individuals everywhere starting right here on The Whole 9. Artists from around the world, working in diverse mediums, are invited to submit their creative interpretations of peace. Is it soldiers laying down their arms? The smile of a child? A dove in flight? Or something more abstract?

PEACE TRAVELS

This collective vision will be unveiled mid-October at The Whole 9’ Gallery 9 in Los Angeles. The exhibit will subsequently make several other stops in Southern California before traveling to San Francisco, New York and London. An online exhibition will be held simultaneously. Confirmed appearances include:

• October 22 -- Gallery9, 6101 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA
• November 4 -- EXPO Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA
• November 9 -- Swarm Gallery, 560 Second Street, Oakland, CA
• November TBD -- Gallery TBD, New York, NY
• January 7 -- Showcase Gallery, Santa Ana, CA

The traveling exhibit will include three elements:

Peace Project Mosaic

4’ x 4’ mosaic featuring ALL pieces submitted to this year’s Call for Artists. This mosaic will be similar to the one shown below which was created in 2010 and will illustrate the beauty and power and peace as seen collectively by thousands of artists around the world. Another mosaic will be used as part of an interactive art piece that will be taken to Sierra Leone and added to on World Peace Day.

Peace Project Grid

A grid will be created using 150 pieces selected by our jurors from all of the submissions. Each piece will be reproduced on 1 foot x 1 foot panels (30.5cm x 30.5cm) and arranged in a grid to underscore the multicultural implications of global peace, as well as reinforce the notion that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. American Easel is proud to support The Peace Project by donating it's handcrafted Painting Panels for this exhibit.

Operation Rise Photography Exhibit

A photography exhibit featuring images of Operation Rise taken by several of the world’s top photojournalists including Pep Bonet will also be developed.

EMPOWERED PARTICIPATION

Both The Peace Project and The Whole 9 are conceived upon the philosophy of inclusion -- encouraging people from all cultures, religions, and creative walks of life, to participate, connect, share resources, and help find solutions for a better world.

If you would like to get involved in The Peace Project above and beyond submitting your art, please click here to contact us.

PEACE LASTS

In addition to the exhibit, The Whole 9 and The Peace Project will again create a commemorative book featuring at least one submission from every participating artist. We’ll also design and sell other Peace Project merchandise that may feature submissions from the Call for Artists.

JURORS

Chris Boot

Executive Director | Aperture Foundation, NY

www.aperture.org

Gail Gaynin

Founder & Principal l Morgan Gaynin, New York

www.morgangaynin.com

Kentaké Chinyelu-Hope

Arts Advocate and Organizer, London
www.linkedin.com/in/kentake

Eli Baer

Founder l Baer Ridgway, San Francisco

www.baerridgway.com

Wayne Dunkley

Photographer & New Media Director, National Film Board of Canada

www.sharemyworld.net

Cameron Shaw

Freelance Art Writer and Editor of Pelican Bomb, New Orleans

www.pelicanbomb.com

AWARDS

Best of Show -- $500 Cash (USD), plus $300 (USD) Utrecht Gift Certificate

Rise Up! Award -- $300 Cash (USD), $200 (USD) Utrecht Gift Certificate

Peace Maker Award -- $300 (USD) Utrecht Gift Certificate

Inspiration Awards (7) -- $100 (USD) Utrecht Gift Certificate

Utrecht proudly supports The Peace Project

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Deadline for submissions is noon, Pacific Time, September 12

• Open to all artists worldwide.

• Artists must be a member of TheWhole9.com and have a completed portfolio. (There is no cost to become a member. Click here to join.)

• Work must be two-dimensional and original work may be any medium.

• Original work may be any size or shape, however, submitted artwork must be square or cropped to square as all selected pieces will be printed and mounted (by The Whole 9) on 1 foot x 1 foot panels (approximately 30.5cm x 30.5cm) for the exhibition.

• A minimum of 150 works will be selected for inclusion in exhibition.

• If selected, artist must be able to provide a high-quality, high-resolution file (minimum of 300 dpi) of image that will be printed and mounted on a panel.

• Artists retain rights to submitted works, but grant The Whole 9 and The Peace Project rights to the digital reproduction of their submission(s) for The Peace Project’s traveling exhibition, commemorative book, and any other merchandise produced to raise funds for The Peace Project or promotion of The Peace Project and/or Operation Rise. ALL net proceeds from sales of artwork and merchandise will be used to fund Operation Rise and other Peace Project initiatives.
  

• A short explanation of the artist's vision about the piece must be included, along with a description of the medium.

FEE

• $10 per piece paid when piece is submitted online.

• There is no limit to the number of works that may be submitted.

• More than one piece from an artist may be selected and included in the exhibit.

DEADLINES

• Entries must be submitted online by noon, Pacific Time, September 12.

• Notification of juried results will be announced September 21.