no one wants a melted revolution

Most would give up revolution to stay dry.

No meeting this Saturday...

The revolution has been postponed due to rain...

Initially because of the SuperFerry protests planned for the morning of Saturday the 8th and now additionally because of potential downpours, we are postponing our envisioning and update meeting.

In the meantime, feel free to think about or send questions you have. Essentially, we are rallying all inspired artists to come together in Austin during the month of March to push onward with the War and Peace Art Show. Your participation and leadership is welcome.

We'll shoot for the following weekend and will send out an email with details in the coming days.

Mahalo,
MA4P

Another unPatriot Act?

Bill 1959 just overwhelmingly passed Congress which states:

‘...ideologically based violence’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual’s political, religious, or social beliefs...

The "planned use of force to promote a political or social belief" would be considered an act of terrorism. "Force" could mean:

• A grassroots campaign to barrage Congress with faxes or mail
• A sit-in protest that blocks access to a business or organization
• A grassroots e-mail campaign that overloads the e-mail servers of any government department or agency

Senate Bill 1959 to Criminalize Thoughts, Blogs, Books and Free Speech Across America

Could "force" mean a bold and audacious art show that demanded that America's occupation o Iraq end now? Maybe not, but what if we barrelled the art show down to Crawford on the back of a flatbed truck and yelled and screamed at the top of our lungs?

Meeting on Saturday December 8

Please join us at Baldwin Beach on December 8, 2007 to meet for an update an to help envision our show in Austin, Texas in March 2008.

Download flyer to print and handout to promote the meeting

New Video

We've updated the War and Peace Opening Video with an interview with the former President of the United Nations Writers and Artists Association.

The Army of Art Invades Venice

Maui Artists for Peace invaded Venice Beach California and it's home base was the epOxybOx Gallery. The opening on October 27th was a success and very Venice-esque. There were many types morphing together creating the party atmosphere talking about art, design, politics and their functions. But let's take it back a couple of days when I first arrived. I landed at 5am on the 25th, took a nap and then hit the streets. I am often inspired by Venice. There is art everywhere. Even their torn billboards are often done so in a collage that only the imagination can identify. But this time I also saw signs of protest. Huge signs on corregated fences with faded five foot letters reading "NO WAR"
What has already faded there is not even conceived here on Maui. Large sheets hanging from uber modern homes reading "WAKE UP! IMPEACH BUSH" I could never imagine someone doing that in Wailea. The other side existed too. Across a Subaru it read "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. DESTROY AL QAEDA" It not so much what it reads but just the fact that people are acknowledging that a WAR IS GOING ON! That is why we are doing this show in the first place. So now a couple of days pass and we are getting ready for the opening. Local artists like the Dill Brothers, Guy and Laddie submitted pieces as well as De Wain Valentine. They were integrated perfectly. Debra Green the gallery owner had a strict idea of which pieces were to be chosen despite the whispering grumbles heard from across the sea. Every piece was placed perfectly. It is a very inviting gallery space. Much appreciation to Debra for holding the show there.
SO now it is the night of the opening. Everyone is very excited. I arrive at 7:40 and already people are there and chatting it up about the art. The band from New Orleans Kid Merv and All That Jazz are setting up and the vino starts flowing... (not to mention the Ginger Margaritas) The band was fantastic. I couldn't help but appreciate the irony of a New Orleans band being there at a Anti-War show, when one of the excuses that I heard about the lack of resources and slow reaction time for aide to Katrina victims is because the military had it all tied up. God I can't stand our government. Shame on us! Anyway, thank you again Kid Merv and crew! Job Well Done my friends.
In conclusion, I am happy about the show in Venice, I hope it has a successful month and some press comes out about it. Then on to San Fran... Seattle...Portland?
May the Army of Art march on!!!

Let's take the show on the road

Just six hours after the sun sets in Maui, it rises on the east coast of the United States. The sun may have set on the War and Peace Art Exhibition Maui, but begins a new life as the War and Peace Art Show, blazing east across the nation until she lands in the lap of our government in Washington D.C.

First stop, Venice, California. The War and Peace Art show will open at the EpoxyBox Gallery in Venice on October 27, 2007.

The goal as we travel the nation is to continue to build momentum by picking up artists in each city. Austin, Texas is booked. We'll have a show in SF, Seattle, Denver for the national convention, and any other cities that call us in. If you have solid leads, please let us know.

It's time to spread the word and do what our government leaders seem paralyzed to do: STOP THE WAR.

We're new on myspace, so if you have a myspace account, add us!
myspace.com/war_and_peace_art_show

Maui Artists For Peace Livin up the Fourth of July Parade

I rarely wake up at 6 am on a Sunday. This day was no different. I made it to the Independence Day Parade in Makawao by 9 am, meaning I missed the entrance time to actually be in the parade.

Nonetheless, it gave me great pride to sit back with a latte from Cloud Nine with my friend and find that the most entertaining and engaging group in the parade was the Maui Artists for Peace. Just 5 days previously they had closed the War and Peace Art Show, and now they represented the flavor of Maui.

From the Maui News:

Maui Artists for Peace created a large float, with a team of dancers and sign wavers speaking out against the Iraq war. David Coennen, a member of the organization, donned a mask in the likeness of President Bush and waved a sign reading “I resign.”

read the rest of this article

Karl Rove the Genius

Every newscast seems to agree (check out Jon Stewart) that Karl Rove was a genius. I like this more, he was ruthless.

I was an avid observer of Al Gore's 2000 campaign. I even helped out a bit with web page maintenance during the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. Rove and the full weight of corporate America and Jeb Bush and Ralph Nader threw everything they had at Gore. Gore won. He beat them all. I really respected him for that. In the end, after Gore had won in Florida, after the Florida Supreme court ruled the votes had to be recounted, then the five Republican members of the US Supreme Court actually intervened and shut the vote count down, and made Bush president. And everyone thought Rove was a genius.

I remember on September 10, 2001, NEWSWEEK ran a headline that read, "The Secret Vote That Made George W. Bush President." Bush's public approval rating was at 42 percent and falling. I forget what the article was about. The next day Osama bin Laden flew two commercial airliners filled with passengers into the World Trade Towers in Lower Manhattan, another into the Pentagon and a fourth into a field in Pennsylvania. Once the smoke had cleared, Bush cautiously returned to Washington, and suddenly he was a hero. And everyone thought Rove was a genius.

For the full read on truthout.org read: ruthless

A Suggested Template for a Collective, Traveling, Anti-War Art Exhibit

The “War and Peace” Art Exhibition held on Maui, Hawaii from June 8, through 29, 2007 was a success far beyond the expectations of its originators. Begun with the intent to provide a venue for local artists to exhibit their more controversial works in regards to the war in Iraq (and “War and Peace” in general) it quickly became the largest collective anti-war art exhibition in the United States. In fact, an internet search indicates that it is the largest such show at least since the occupation of Iraq!

To our pleasure, the gallery began acting as a catalyst for community connection. This was an unexpected benefit. At first, a few presentations and gatherings were scheduled on-site. Within days, however, community groups from all over the island were asking to schedule their events at the gallery. This art exhibition quickly became a center of activity for a diverse array of community groups that included fund-raisers, benefits, educational programs, and multi-media presentations, along with music, a spoken word “Slam!” (The largest in Maui’s history!) and theatre pieces.

This creation has the potential to be a model for artists everywhere to join together to create environments that galvanize communities. We offer our experience to all! We’ll continue to report on what we’re learning through this website, so the model can be strengthened.

What has happened here in Maui, however, is more than a model, it is the beginning of a movement.

A gallery in California is requesting representative pieces of our art exhibit to include with an anti-war art exhibit of their local artists. This brings us to a vision of what could be from what has started here in Maui.

The plan is simple. We send representative works and DVDs and information packages to the next venue, which, in turn, sends our submissions along with their own contributions to the next venue. As the venues move across the country, we will build an inventory of art, along with video-resource library whose content could be ordered selectively by communities wishing to join the project.

We anticipate many communities will want to participate in this project, but few will have the resources necessary to produce a show large enough to hold the full exhibit. They can be included as well. Interested groups can put on a mini-art show of their own and feature video-documentation of other of the shows and/or projects at it. Smaller groups can have a theme within a theme, using us as a resource. A growing collective of small venues could have huge impact, as well.

As each community participates, it will document its artists and their art and activities and projects and make it available to upcoming venues. As the show moves across the country, it gets larger, and more communities are represented. Can you picture a stop in Manhattan to gather HUGE numbers of works and artists? The “hook” of “Maui to Manhattan: From Our Island to Yours” is irresistible! But it doesn't stop there: the project culminates at a huge venue in Washington, D.C.

This allows more focused projects to take life as a result of the larger project. At the same time, “footage” of all the shows will be made available for editing into one collective film that traces the complete life of the project, including voices of artists nationwide against the war.

Since this is meant to be no more than an outline of basic components to begin the dialogue and process, let’s mention a number of (suggested) key ingredients that will pass from show to show:

* Our “War and Peace” exhibit began because a number of prominent local artists could not find venues for controversial and highly personal pieces they created. Our “centerpiece”, if you will, was a work by Tom Sewell. It is an American flag whose stripes are made up of images of the faces of each US soldier who was killed in the Iraq conflict (the “count” was about 3,200 at the time of completion of the project). The “stars” area shows the face of one soldier at a time. This will travel from exhibition to exhibition (and is ideal as a video display, also).
* An undetermined number of anti-war/pro-peace art pieces from each venue
* A video-tour of each venue
* A video of representative artists showing and speaking about their contributions to the exhibit.
*Videos of individual projects, pertinent to the theme, that were showcased at individual art exhibitions
*A filmed musical piece. Each venue offers a song on the theme of peace. Original or otherwise at the discretion of the venue.
* A filmed spoken word “Slam!”
* Each venue can initiate projects that can include past and/or future outlines of grassroots projects or literature developed during the course of the show that newer venues can use as templates

Where is all this leading? Picture a collective show of hundreds of artists from communities across the United States expressing themselves against war within walking distance of the White House! It also contains representatives of community organizations related to the overall project sharing resources and connections. A “video wall” showcases the various projects that have come from the show, while a stage hosts live acts from across the nation, performing what they’ve created for their shows.

We have already shown how, in one community, artistic expression can be a galvanizing force in efforts to counter our country’s involvement in illegal and immoral war. The artists of Maui now offer a template to the rest of the world to help us unify our voices for the good of all.

Art Gallery begins...

We hope to include more art soon as well as descriptions of the work. The full size gallery from the War and Peace Art Exhibition 2007 is on the website. Feel free to comment on the work.

Iraq contractors outnumber troops - baltimoresun.com

Iraq contractors outnumber troops - baltimoresun.com:

By T. Christian Miller
Originally published July 4, 2007

The number of U.S.-paid private contractors in Iraq now exceeds that of American combat troops, new figures show, raising fresh questions about the privatization of the war and the government's capacity to carry out military and rebuilding campaigns.

More than 180,000 civilians - Americans, Iraqis and others - are working in Iraq under U.S. contracts, according to State and Defense department figures obtained by the Los Angeles Times. Including the recent troop buildup, 160,000 soldiers and a few thousand civilian government employees are stationed in Iraq.

The total number of private contractors, far higher than previously reported, shows how heavily the Bush administration has relied on private corporations to carry out the occupation of Iraq - a mission criticized as being undermanned"

Exhibit Deserves Worldwide Media Attention

We are the largest anti-war art exhibit in the United States today. We are very likely the largest and longest collective exhibition of this kind since before the fall of Saddam Hussein! We are artists doing our job: awakening the public to take notice.

We were quite surprised by how few exhibits have been held in the US (more have been held in London!). The largest one we could find since our entry into this war had less than half as many artists participating. We’re talking less than 25 events with more than 10 participating artists, and even less lasting more than a few days.

Our call for art went out about ten days before the event began. By the opening, over 80 artists from the island brought in their art. Today, we have over 100 artists and over 200 pieces of art on display. But that’s not all. Over 600 children across the state of Hawaii made prayer flags in honor of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to Paia to dedicate a prayer shrine. They are on display also.

Through community support, the exhibit has been showing in a 4,000 sq. ft. gallery, with a three-week running time. It is our hope to secure more such spaces to extend the exhibit. And there’s a very good reason for that.

This exhibit space has become a center for activism, and it’s not limited to war and peace.

The three-week event has included a steady stream of video, educational, and public participation programs, along with music and stage plays. Included have been update meetings for the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement, gathering local business people to discuss establishing “plastic-free” towns, a benefit for Autism awareness and even a spoken word “Slam!” which was the biggest in Maui’s history.

It’s gotta start somewhere, and Maui is the ideal place.

It’s only a little island about 1/2 the size of Long Island in the most remote part of the world. It has less than 140,000 people living on it, and many of those are not full-time residents. Some art guides identify Maui as the third largest art market in the world, but suffice it to say it is well-known as the “Art Capital of the Pacific.” That’s a double-entendre that sticks!

The opening night alone drew more than 500 people to it and this to a town with a population of only 6,500! Since opening night, the gallery has had a steady stream of visitors. This has not been a tourist-oriented event. Its largest advertising has been through word-of-mouth.

It’s not a selling event, though some of the art pieces have sold. For the most part, these are works of art created as deeply personal statements of individuals about their relationship with this war, that war, those wars and/or the longing for and realization of peace. Most media are represented and there are many clear examples of artistic mastery.

Many people of all stripes have become deeply affected by the art, and then, come back to participate in a program. Many dialogues have begun and actions initiated as a result of gatherings here. Barack Obama’s Sister, Maya, was the first representative of a major political campaign to visit us. Many veterans of war have been here, and regardless of their political positions have found sources of healing.

Maui is not really known as a center of political activism here in Hawaii. It does, however, host a great variety of what could be called “cultural creatives.” The job of the artist is to reflect the world you’re in, and who you are, back to you. That’s what’s happening here.

Actually, that's just what's starting here!

What once was a vague notion is now becoming a reality that has the potential to grow exponentially in its impact. Already we have been offered a venue to hold another such exhibit on the Mainland! A gallery in California has embraced the concept of taking a number of our pieces and inviting local artists there to contribute their anti-war works for a show that will then move on to another venue heading East, and to another and another until there’s a massive, collective anti-war exhibit in Washington, D.C.!

And here we are, now, the beginning of a movement!

What’s showing up at this exhibition, individually, may make you wince, give you pause, provoke tears or anger you. But there are also many, many messages and expressions of peace. The overall effect, strangely enough, is hope. Not because the art is coordinated to say that, but because the art provides a container where people can be stimulated to take action to make a better world – for all of us.

And we offer what we've learned to act as a model for other communities to follow.

If you have any influence at all, connect with us to hear the voices and see the visions of people working for the good. You will find something to relate to and to work with. If you know anyone of influence, help them get in touch with us so they can spread the word, for the good of all~!

Closing Night... The Roast of President George W. Bush

The art show ended in Maui with a roast of George W. Bush. Go-go dancers marched onto the stage waving an American Flag, while a catchy tune from Green Day blared out lyrics likely few would have guesses against the punchy pop rock backdrop:

Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (Hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!)
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday

The roast was at times crass and vulgar, often hilarious, and mostly uncomfortable. But shouldn't it be uncomfortable? The task of taking the current President to task is inevitably a strange and surreal experience because of how unbelievable it is that as a democracy we have allowed Bush to lead us to this place.

As I was telling a friend to come to the show-- "Osama will be there, Saddam will be there, Hillary... it will be very funny..."-- my friend remarked, "It had better be funny, he's got so much material to work with."

Some people walked out after the first five minutes to find solace in the artwork in the gallery rooms. And that perhaps shows why the Maui War and Peace Show closed with something that was below the belt, that called our President stupid, that made every immature jab at George W. possible, that cussed and slurred... the contrast of the Roast of Bush with the artwork in the Gallery served to show us where we could have gone with the rest of the show but didn't.

The War and Peace show was a memorial to the fallen and a powerful prayer for peace. It was honorable, it brought people to tears, it inspired. I can't tell you how many visitors, after walking through the gallery, sat down to express deep gratitude.

I found myself laughing hard when no one else was laughing and noticing others laugh when something wasn't funny. As I'm logging the videotape to my computer, I can't even hear the audio, but watching Saddam, Osama and Hillary dancing behind the spokesperson for Bush has me cracking up.

The Largest Anti-War Art Show in the United States

Thanks to the research and will power of Russ Reina AKA Firetender, the count of actual art pieces is 205, the number of artists exceeds 100 and there is no other art show in the United States that has as large a collective nor collection of Art with this kind of a statement. We said from the beginning we would create the largest anti-war art protest in the nation. I thought it would come by way of Tom's idea to march with the faces of each fallen American Soldier as masks over our faces. Or as Pat's idea to have a die-in on the beaches of Maui.

The question for me, now that we have the largest Peace art show in the nation, how do we amplify the ripples of our message and stop America's war in Iraq. One way for now, is to spread the word. Write the editors of newspapers on the mainland. Send messages to all media, Television, Radio and the web. As far as the web is concerned, the largest viral marketing tool I know of is DIGG.com. At least 2 million people are exposed to the most "dugg" stories-- each digg is basically a point for the website. I've created a DIGG link that you can use to promote our message. All you have to do is click the DIGG link right below this text. You will have to register but it could make a real difference in getting exposure.

What else do we need to do to spread the word?

read more | digg story

The largest MauiSLAM! yet! @ the War & Peace Art Show June 24th, 2007

Bookend wins for Terms None!

Terms took the prize on Memorial Day and brought it home again last night at the largest MauiSLAM! yet held at the War & Peace Art Exhibit in Makawao, Maui.

200 or so made their way to the space in Makawao as the Maui Artists for Peace hosted MauiSLAM! Maui's only monthly performance poetry competition. 30 poets from 7 to 70 spit their verses as living canvases were adorned with a mural of serenity and peace.

Eddie Float and Rudy Esquire rocked the space as the crowd filed in through the countries largest war and peace art exhibit in the country; and more works continue to come in with only five days left before the official close of the exhibit.

DJ Tobin filled the air with beats between the first time slammers, serious contenders and previous winners like Pat Masumoto, Jahsun, Lawrence Hill, Michael P, Frank Rich and Terms None.

G503 aka Zack Williams, Firetender & Terms all scored 29 and with Firetenders earl departure, only G5 & Terms bring it back to the stage. Terms took the tie breaker and the $100 for the second month in a row as the theme of war & peace fueled the passion of this incredible performer.

Video highlights coming to the site soon.

Mahalo to all the poets, judges and supporters of MauiSLAM! and the Maui Artists for Peace!

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
Peace,
D

Internationally travelling Tipi From Australia Visits the War and Peace Show

If you've ever been to Maui you can deeply appreciate that not a single billboard dots the island. The gentleman across the street at the StopWatch Bar tells us we're breaking the Maui billboard laws. I wouldn't be so concerned except that he says he's a former county councilman.

Howie Cooke's Tipi has been to 9 countries, 4 International Whaling Conferences, and has had over 100,000 visitors inside the Tipi. He showed up at the War and Peace Show looking for Dolphin Dave who will be presenting the movie "The Gathering: Return of the Whaledreamers" on Tuesday night at the gallery. In tow was the Tipi.

Well, as I am writing this, I sit at the gallery and a police officer just pulled up after receiving ten complaints. Her lieutenant had instructed her to deal with the Tipi that was obsctructing visibility for drivers.

"I really hate to bother you," Officer Heather said. I asked if we could just move the Tipi over, she said that was fine. And then she proceeded to spend some time admiring the art in the show. She was particularly impressed with the kids room where we have over 600 pieces of art made by children.

Howie is off to Australia tomorrow with his Tipi where he continues his message that all whaling must stop. Japan has announced they will be killing 50 humpbacks this year as part of a scientific study. "They are using the auspices of a scientific study to justify what is a worldwide illegal act," says Cooke.

Barack Obama's campaign is the first to visit the War and Peace Art Show

The highlight of the morning's meeting was what followed when when someone mentioned that Barrack Obama's sister was on Maui. Someone said to (I think it was) Loraine-- do you know anyone you can call to invite her to the gallery?

She got on the phone and about 10 minutes later she announces to us all-- "she's on her way."

Five minutes earlier, photographer Lisa Yurkovic had walked in with her camera. We immediately recruited her.

Maya Soeoro-Ng walked into the gallery and quickly commented that she was impressed. "I am a schoolteacher you know," she said. "I'd love to use this as part of my curriculum."

She spent almost a half hour taking her time with the art. She was with her family and her young daughter spent some time playing in the kids room-- the kids room is draped with prayer flags hanging from the ceiling and the walls are adorned with peace art from 600 kids.

Pictured at left, Maya Soeoro-Ng and Tim Garcia in front of Tom Sewell's piece: "I Can No longer Remain Silent."

We're now waiting on the visits from campaigns of Clinton, Edwards, Kucinich... Guiliani, McCain... in fact, the Obama campaign was the first of any politician (including local) to visit the Maui War and Peace Art Show.

Slam Poets for Peace!

What a night! Still running into people who were part of the 300 or so that made their way through the largest War & Peace Art Exhibit in the country! And they are still buzzing!

Maui SLAM! poets Zach Williams, Terms None, Pat Masumoto, Lawrence Hill & JahSun contributed to the night's creative collaboration, spitting verses and curses and rhythms and rhymes for peace and to SLAM BUSH!





Terms None brought "Just Kidding", his winning poem from our PEACED OFF! Memorial Day Maui SLAM!

Maui Artists for Peace plan to keep the momentum going all next week, every night and through the weekend!


Maui SLAM! tops off this weeks events on Sunday at the War & Peace Exhibit with what could turn out to be the largest poetry slam on Maui yet!

Maui SLAM, Maui’s monthly spoken word competition, will be in Makawao this month to celebrate the Maui Artists for Peace WAR & PEACE Art Exhibition.

This art exhibit is a platform for radical expression including the largest protest in the state against America 's War in Iraq .

On Sunday, June 24th 2007, performance poets, emcees, spoken word artists and activists, are invited to perform original works of 3 min. or less in competition for $100 cash prize. War/Peace themes encouraged, but not required.

Doors 6p/SLAM 7p $5 cover, no costumes/music/props.

Complete rules at mauislam.com

War & Peace Art Exhibition 1134 Makawao Ave. across from the Public Parking Lot, and next to Minit Stop (Elan Vital space).


See you all week!

Peace,
Dave & Chela

Great Reviews

The Maui War and Peace Show that opened on June 8th 2007 was a huge success. Over 500 people attended an art show with over 80 artists bringing over 200 pieces of art (not counting the kids-- too hard to count) all inspired by the original intention to stop the war in Iraq.

Our intention was to create a bold and audacious ART SHOW titled "War and Peace" on Maui proclaiming that:

This illegal and immoral war must stop now.

I was in San Francisco the night of the opening. My first voicemail in the morning following was: "I hope you had a great time last night because you missed one of the best events of the year on Maui."

Thanks Rachel.

All the reviews I've heard inform me that the apparent political apathy we think we see in our country is simply a desire for more creative and artistic expressions against the war. The space was rented out just three weeks before the opening. The media call for art was put out just 5 days before the show.

The best review published so far is from the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute:

The Maui War and Peace Art Exhibition 2007 opening night was a mind blowing huge success. I saw a miracle in Makawao. This art scene was all about war and peace. It wasn’t about art for tourists. And this is the type of art that one could only see in a big city art scene. This was art that moved you. This exhibition is an important event in art history.

I have the honor of writing the first blog post for Maui Artists for Peace. Look for posts from Michelle, Tim, Tom, Jerry, Dave, Chela, Suba... Summer... Russ... Sandra... who else am I missing? Let me know.

Peace,
G