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The InterRelations Collaborative, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization established in 1991 with a start-up grant from the United Way of New York City to promote cross-cultural relations among rapidly diversifying populations in New York City.
At the outset, the IRC conducted nationwide research documenting cross-cultural community-building models in U.S. gateway cities (e.g. New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco).
Among our research models, we identified a cross-cultural arts model which used the power of story and art to build cross-cultural understanding. Distinguished Professor of Art at the University of California, San Diego, Faith Ringgold, and New York City visual artist, Lisa Yi, collaborated on a “story quilt" (genre of art uniquely originated by Ms. Ringgold). The Ringgold-Yi cross-cultural story quilt incorporated aspects of their respective ethnic experiences. In Yi’s words: “We created a bridge of time and place.”
Following tragic events on September 11, 2001, in response to an alarming rise in ethnic intolerance, IRC implemented a PeaceMaking Initiative and, adapting the Ringgold-Yi cross-cultural model, brought together young people from across New York City to document their experiences on 9/11. Students, ages 11-19, generated – "in their own words"– a collective oral history. They also produced images communicating the impact of 9/11 which were dove-tailed with their textual account and published in the book, What Will You Do For Peace? Impact of 9/11 on New York City Youth. Their moving narrative and compelling artwork caught the attention of celebrated artist, Faith Ringgold, and they were honored to publish their book in association with her.
In her introduction to the "Peace Book," Ms. Ringgold writes: "When I was shown the layout for a new book titled What Will You Do For Peace? my heart filled with joy. What a beautiful collaboration, a perfect response from New York City's young people, aged 11 to 19. This gracefully poetic account of that frightening day in their young lives is a gift of sensitivity and love. I was amazed at their generosity of spirit. I found the paintings and expressive verse in the book deeply inspiring."
The young authors were successful in getting their voices out and sending their message of hope and healing across their stricken city. The Peace Book now resides in more than 100 branches of the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Borough Public Library. The Peace Book is available at Amazon.com
In 2006, capturing the power of oral history using the medium of the visual arts, IRC commissioned Faith Ringgold to design a 9/11 Peace Story Quilt inspired by the Peace Book to be constructed in collaboration with students, ages 8-19, participating in the PeaceMaking Initiative. During a series of master classes, Ms. Ringgold mentored the Peace QuiltMakers on how to transfer their 9/11 oral history and accompanying images from hardcopy to canvas. The Peace Story Quilt, composed of three panels, each measuring 72”x 50,” was completed for the 5th anniversary of 9/11. The 9/11 Peace Story Quilt was exhibited at ACA Galleries in Lower Manhattan and launched on its journey to spread young New Yorkers’ call to peace and understanding across their “global city.” The Peace Story Quilt will also bring its message of peace and healing to other cities directly affected by tragic events on 9/11. The Peace Quilt will then travel across country to communities, schools, universities and museums on its peace-building journey coast to coast. The Peace Quilt's itinerary is posted below.
IRC’s Peace QuiltMaking Model is now being replicated at community organizations and public schools serving diversifying student populations across New York City. Peace Quilt Workshops are conducted in collaboration with Patricia Maunder, Director of Stories Through Art.
In 2008, we are also harnessing the power of oral history using the media arts by adapting the Peace Book to visual format to be used as an “audiovisual tool” to capture the attention of young audiences and set an empowering tone for cross-cultural dialogues. The "Peace Video" was produced in collaboration with Rafaela Capellan of Areyto Productions. The soaring youth anthem, Can You Hear, on the audio-track was composed by Jim Papoulis of the Foundation for Small Voices and performed by the Young People's Chorus of New York City.
We also access the power of oral history utilizing performance art as an “educational tool” for our increasingly multicultural audiences. This multicultural community-building module taps the power of shared public history – not only by employing the visual and media arts – but also empowered by audience participation using extemporaneous performance as a “mobilizing tool” to facilitate inter-ethnic interaction and cross-cultural exchange. This spontaneous, shared performance carves out creative space in which multicultural audience members can come together, build bridges of understanding, and discover the common ground that they share.
Columbia University
Bank Street College
Wagner College
Queens College
If you would like to be included on the Peace Quilt's journey and exhibit it at your school, university or museum for educational purposes, please Contact Us
The InterRelations Collaborative gratefully acknowledges the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The FAR Fund, Lutheran Disaster Response of New York, United Methodist Committee on Relief and The United Way of New York City for IRC's nationwide research and educational programs.
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