PEACE OF ART at MEDFORD CITY HALL
September 26, 2006

Medford, MA - During the month of October, Peace of Art exhibit will be on display at the Medford City Hall. The public is invited to the opening reception hosted by the honorable Mayor Michael McGlynn on October 5th, 2006 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the council chambers. Catering provided by courtesy of Bistro 5 of Medford.
"Pablo Picasso once said, ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’ Truly this quote describes the way I feel about the world of fine art. I have always stressed the importance and need for art and music in our schools and in our daily lives. I feel that fine arts help to improve the quality of life for all," said Mayor Michael J. McGlynn.

The Peace of Art exhibit is dedicated to the peace keepers and achievers around the globe. Medford is a city of heroes with a rich history of veterans who contributed to peace. It is also an intellectual center, the home of Tufts University, Fletcher School of Government where many international leaders have passed through. This exhibit is an excellent opportunity for community leaders and everyone to pause and ponder about sensitive issues which are often undermined.

Peace of Art, Inc., is a non-profit organization created and founded by artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian. It is an educational project that uses the universal language of art to bring awareness to the universal human condition. The Peace of Art exhibit is comprised of a series of drawings and paintings that address human suffering, such as hunger and homelessness, but also exposes the tender side of humanity, the endurance of the human spirit, and the bond between human beings. These fine line drawings have been viewed and understood because of the universal nature of the themes presented and communicated through the universal language of art. The exhibit has brought together people from different walks of life and from opposing points of view.

Since 2003, Peace of Art has traveled through cities and towns in Massachusetts, and it has been exhibited in government buildings such as the Massachusetts State House; DCR Historical Society Gallery in Lawrence; the Mogan Center in Lowell; City Hall buildings in Boston, Cambridge and Newton; and South Station Grand Concourse in Boston. It has been exhibited in libraries such as Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown; public libraries in Brockton, Stoneham, Chelmsford and Lowell; and in schools such as Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge; and Massasoit College in Canton.

Mayor McGlynn’s words are reminiscent of President John F. Kennedy’s words: "If sometimes our great artists have been the most critical of our society, it is because their sensitivity and their concern for justice, which must motivate any true artist, makes him aware that our Nation falls short of its highest potential. I see little of more importance to the future of our country and our civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth."