INTERNATIONAL ART PROJECT




AN INTERNATIONAL ART PROJECT

Compared with the infinite size of the known universe and the distance between galaxies, the distance between person to person on planet Earth begins to seem microscopic! We are all closer than we realize! Even so, with six billion people and even billions more species, coupled with the exponential growth of technologies that increase our separation, it is easy to feel disconnected and alone...

This project, stemming from individual community art projects and growing into an International art project, is about sharing the moments when you felt connected to something greater than yourself... maybe to another person, an animal, the environment or to any possible interpretation of God. Someone on the other side of the planet wants to feel what you felt when you could have sworn the universe was closing in on you and maybe all you could do was squeeze the hand of the person next to you because there were no words to describe, or the moment when you wanted to scream, "Did anybody else just see that?!" Someone out there wants to know about the time when you caught a stranger's eye and you both just smiled.

This worldwide collection of moments of human connectivity are encouraged from ALL walks of life with no discrimination whatsoever. This project is an extension of myself and without knowing it is an extension of you too. The principle point is that I can't do it alone.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

FEBRUARY- "Imagine all the people we brush paths with and never know a thing about them."







It was the worst day of my life. One morning while out of town for the weekend, I got a phone call with the news that my 19-year old son had died in a fire while away at college. Still in shock a few hours later, my husband and I boarded a plane to go back home.

I walked shakily down the aisle looking for seats near the front, as I thought my queasy stomach couldn't take riding in the back. The only open seats were with a woman who sat huddled under a blanket by the window. Briefly thinking, "I hope she isn't sick, that's the last thing we need" I sat down beside her, with my husband on the aisle.

The flight seemed to last forever. Finally, the plane started its descent and through my haze of fear, shock and anxiety (sadness would come later) I must have said something to my husband about courage, and needing to be strong or something to that effect. In a moment the woman said to me, "Excuse me, I'm so sorry to ask, but have you just lost someone?" I said, "Yes, my son." Her eyes widened, and she said, "My son died last night too, and I'm just now going home." We fell into each others arms. Our sons were only a year apart in age, and had died within hours of each other. We kept in touch for a long time, and both of us felt our sons had directed us to meet on that awful day.

We easily could have gotten off of that plane never knowing what the other was going through. There were many more instances after my son's death where I felt some kind of divine support and comfort, and this was just the beginning. Imagine all the people we brush paths with and never know a thing about them.


Anonymous
Austin, Texas

1 comment:

  1. Wow, a sad but beautiful story. After losing my friend, I experienced divine moments of clarity and comfort as well... That things may be more hopeful than we can see, when we are stuck in a haze of sadness and introspection. These are the times where we should speak up, because someone may need it just as much.

    Love your blog Karen. You express a lot of the same things I would like to read or express on the web... Though it's definitely not my strong suit ;)
    (Leslie June)

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