On the The Art Inspiring Action Project - Children Arts from El Salvador Exhibition
"With the eyes of our heart we see the colorfulness of life.”
The Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations hosted
an art exhibition entitled "Children Arts from El Salvador in New York."

by Hande SUBASILAR, Ph.D.
General Secretary of the Light Millennium and
Representative to the UN

The El Salvador Permanent Mission to the United Nations presented a very unique art exhibition entitled "The Art Inspiring Action Project" featuring the expressive artworks of talented Salvadorian children, who have been chosen from a group of art students from The El Centro District Italia School in El Salvador to present their paintings for the opening night of the exhibition. The exhibition was held at The Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations in New York City on Thursday, November 21, 2013, and it was coordinated by Helping Hands Inc., in collaboration with The Helping Hands Youth Council, The Light Millennium Organization, associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations, "Models Doing More", and The El Centro District Italia School, El Salvador.

The organizers said “The Art Inspiring Action Project was intentionally named after meeting these outstanding art students during a visit to their school in El Salvador and we were inspired by their passion for painting, which uplifted their spirits, self-esteem and hope for the future.” The exhibition organized in support of the The United Nations' Universal Children's Day (Nov. 20). By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each considers appropriate. The date 20 November, marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.” [Source: www.un.org/en/events/childrenday]

As one of the poorest area in Salvador, Centro Escolar Distrito Italia School’s social and cultural programs divided to art of painting, music, science and sports. Forty five--in rich color, style and tecnique--succeful paintings and composition by fifteen students from age of 11 to 16 from The El Centro District Italia School were exhibited. H.E. Ambassador Carlos Enrique Garcia Gonzalez mentioned that this art exhibition comes from one of the most vulnerable group studying at “Centro Escolar Distrito Italia - Tonacatepeque, El Salvador” is more than a painting...it’s really “Art Inspiring Action”.

See the beauty of life through colors with the eyes of the heart

H.E. Ambassador Garcia in his opening remarks of the exhibition: “We are here to celebrate what can be produced by dreams and hopes of children no matter if they live surrounded by violence, poverty, sanitations, lack of health or many other things we hear at the UN that we are familiar with. As an Ambassador I would like to share with you that we are committed not only to try to help people also to join them as partners to create prosperity. That is a different mission form serving or assisting as a charity; that is not what we are looking for any more. We want to be the partners; we want to work together as human beings”. He also mentioned that the first thing one notices when looking at those pictures that they are very colorful. He asked some of the children why thery are using so much color? And they said “we see darkness, violence, poverty, we see lack of everything even food every day. But with the eyes of our heart we see the colorfulness of life.” This is precisely the message of the exhibition “see the beauty of life through colors with the eyes of the heart”.

Rubén Díaz, Andrea Torres, David Alexander, Dennis Santos, Evelyn Hernández, Kevin Martínez, Pedro Felipe and many more young talents showed their ability beyond their age with help of their art teacher Mario Perez. Those colorful art works inspired many viewers not just with their beauty but their meaning. Despite all the difficulties of life, these pictures are an indication of future full of hope.

Attaché on Cultural Affairs Ad-Honorem Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations, Sonia Melara mentioned in the exhibition's brochure that these kids are very talented and they started to explain themselves through art. These children are capable to see beauty in the heart of poverty and danger.

The principle of The El Centro District Italia School, Edwin Maurici Perez Juarewas, Deputy Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the UN, Ambassador Rubin Hasbun, President of Helping Hands Inc., and coordinator of the exhibition Kausha Siriwardana and Helping Hands Inc. Youth Council Vice President Sigiri Siriwardana, President of The Light Millennium Bircan Ünver as one of the co-organizers of the exhibition, former Permanent Representative of Iraq to the UN Dr. T. Hamid Al-Bayati, Face of Africa (Nani) along with several dignitaries, Consuls, UN-NGO representatives, UN journalists, artists, sponsors and friends of El Salvador attended the opening event.

President of The Light Millennium Ms. Unver emphasized that this exhibition has been a remarkable collaboration and organized in support of the UN's Universal Children Day. Alhtough its resolution dates 1954, yet, it is not much celebrated or acknowledged at the UN. Thus, it is important to pronounce it as part of the exhibition's goals, she said.

For the last section of the opening, there was also a musical and dance performances. In order to support the programs of the El Centro District Italia School paintings were offered for sale ($100.00), which previously defined as 50 per cent of it for its student artist, other 50 per cent will go to the school. With that over 20 paintings were sold. The opening event successfully carried out the mission of allowing these children to continue their effort to be artists.

Photo Album of the Opening - Part I
Photo Album - Part II
Media Release
Invitation

- Posted on December 15, 2013 by Bircan Ünver.