FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

Global Art Project Brings Diplomacy to Life

Students to Illustrate Peace, Democracy and Social Issues

in International Collaborative Program

(BEVERLY HILLS, CA)  Students in countries around the world are joining together in a ground-breaking global, collaborative project focused on diplomacy and global issues, creating unique works of art, with thirty-two of the top ranked entries to be reproduced into eight collaborative glass tile mosaics and unveiled in Beverly Hills and Cannes, France in summer 2003.

The MOSAICS OF LIFE project illustrates young people’s understanding, concerns, and insights into themes that are affecting and shaping our lives both locally and globally, bringing them into global collaboration on issues of peace and diplomacy as it relates to leadership skills, business and international trade, fine arts and culture, health and the environment, politics, science and technology.

Coordinated by Israel resident award-winning educator Karen Eini, MOSAICS OF LIFE is being developed by the renown San Diego based Global SchoolNet Foundation along with educational initiatives in the Sister Cities of Beverly Hills, California and Cannes, France, in conjunction with White House-initiated "Friendship Through Education" program and the US State Department-sponsored "Doors to Diplomacy" project.

MOSAICS OF LIFE begins with students in schools worldwide submitting original art, via the Internet, reflecting the eight “Doors to Diplomacy” category themes.  Student editors in Beverly Hills and Cannes will identify the top-rated entries, which will then be turned over to eight teams of judges representing a broad array of disciplines (business, international diplomacy, fine arts and culture, health and the environment, politics, science and technology, and fine arts), who will then be responsible for selecting the final artwork of merit that best represents each of the eight themes.

“I want to stress the utmost importance of global collaborative learning experiences, for a safe and peaceful world. It is vital to form a citizen diplomacy network that fosters education to leverage the substantial strengths and resources in local communities for the enhancement of peace and international relationships worldwide,”  said Yvonne Marie Andres, President, Global SchoolNet Foundation.  “This program has the potential to have a great impact in building understanding and opening dialogue on very significant issues facing all of us around the world.”

“These student-created murals will be works of art that express modern ideas and concerns about peace and democracy in our world,” stated Harvey Malloy, President, OpioAmerica, the US subsidiary of the Cannes-based OpioColor glass tile company, which is a main sponsor of the program.  “This will stimulate us to think carefully about our environment, our economic and social security, while using the same mosaic techniques perfected by the ancient Etruscans and Romans.”

”We’re pooling the resources and talents of a global team of people from educational, social and commercial organizations to help students throughout the world enrich their lives by providing a creative context for artistic self expression and communal collaboration,” said John D. Boswell, President, NeTV Networks and member of the Board of Directors of Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association. “The two key collaborating teams will be in the Sister Cities of Beverly Hills and Cannes, but the submissions will be from young people of all ages and nationalities.”

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