Childrens Art Installation for Dalai Lama Symposium at Aspen Institute



The installation began as a conversation between Kitty Boone, Director of Public Programs of the Aspen Institute, and Hunter O'Hanian, President of Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Ms. Boone commented that His Holiness the Dalai Lama enjoyed being surrounded by children's artwork, and O'Hanian quickly recognized it as an opportunity for a community arts collaboration and outreach with the Institute and local arts organizations.

A month later, under the guidance of Anderson Ranch Arts Center Children's Program and Outreach Coordinator Sarabeth Berk, the installation for the Dalai Lama's July 26th talk, "A Celebration of Tibetan Culture," became a reality. It was designed by nationally renowned artists Mike and Doug Starn and will be created by children from the Roaring Fork Valley.

"This project has been a tremendous opportunity," Berk says, "not only because it honors a world leader, but it connects artistic energy in the Roaring Fork Valley, both children and adults alike, and demonstrates the power of collaboration among different groups of people. It's been an incredible process to act on behalf of Anderson Ranch to pull it together."

Anderson Ranch Arts Center recruited the help of three other local arts organizations--the Wyly Community Art Center, Carbondale Council on the Arts and Humanities, and the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts--as well as forty-eight Roaring Fork Valley children ages 6-12 to create the individual artistic elements comprising the installation. The children will be encouraged to explore and express their prayers and wishes for peace, love, and understanding while experiencing the spirit of collaboration.

The installation, specifically created for Aspen Music Festival's Benedict Music Tent stage, has been designed to convey interconnectedness and the artistic elements are meant to be experienced as a whole. It includes a 6 foot by 45 foot digital mural placed behind His Holiness and a cloud of 1,200 handmade prayer flags floating above him, mimicking the tradition of spreading prayers, hope and good wishes by wind throughout the world. Additionally, snowflakes will be included in the mural to represent themes of ephemeral beauty, uniqueness, and the power of coalescence.

Where

Aspen Institute Benedict Music Tent, Aspen, Colorado

When

Morning of Saturday, July 26th.

Tickets, Live Telecasts, and Web casts

While music tent and the large screen simulcasts in the Paepcke Auditorium and Doer-Hosier building are sold out, there is free seating in the grass outside the tent. There will also be a live web cast of the event streaming from: http://www.aifestival.org/ the day of the event, with images and multimedia available both from the Aspen Ideas festival website and Anderson Ranch website afterward.

Conceptual Designers

The artists Mike and Doug Starn serve as the installation's conceptual designers. They are identical twins who work collaboratively in the territory between photography, sculpture and painting, and occupy a unique position within contemporary art practices of photography. The Starns engagement with Buddhist principles takes many forms, both concrete and abstract. The Starns' will be in Aspen from the 17th to the 27th of July to attend other Aspen Institute programming and help install the artwork. See www.starnstudio for a full bio and other projects completed by the Starns.

Installation Installers and Organizers

The installation, reflecting the temporal and transitory nature of existence, will be installed in two hours the evening of July 25th, and taken down immediately following the event on the 26th.

Aspen Institute, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Wyly Community Arts Center, Carbondale Council on the Arts and Humanities, and Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts all played a key role in conducting children's workshops to create the installation and providing the logistical support for the children to attend and participate in the event.

Exhibition Sponsors

The symposium, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Aspen: A Celebration of Tibetan Culture" has been organized in compliance with the guidelines of the Office of Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama does not accept honoraria and symposium proceeds will be used solely to defray event costs. Sponsorship for the art installation was provided by the Stanton Fund and Aspen Institute.

Media Contacts

Anderson Ranch Arts Center

Doug Ellis, Director of Marketing/Communications 970.923.3181 x216

Aspen Institute

Teal Brown, (970) 544 7972





Childrens Art Installation for Dalai Lama Symposium at Aspen Institute