Enews 11/14/11 "War Rug Project Update 5"

Barbara Koenen :: WAR RUG PROJECT UPDATE 5 The WAR RUG PROJECT began in 2002, when I started recreating Afghan War Rugs as temporary art installations made out of spices. I was inspired both by the inherent tragedy of the war rugs woven in and around Afghanistan, and the sustained optimism of the sand mandalas of Tibetan Buddhists. Nine versions of the War Rug Project have been made since, with the most recent beginning this past September 2 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), in conjunction with the Art Prize competition. On Sunday, October 9, Tim and I completed the installation by pulling three monoprints of the spices... Printing Spreading acrylic medium on the canvas, October 9, 2011 Like the previous eight War Rug Project installations, this was a recreation of an Afghan war rug that I found listed for sale on Ebay. "Twin Towers- Tribute Rug Carpet-9/11 2001- USA History" was the first post-9/11 war rug in the series. All the earlier rug installations were based on carpets made in response to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. "Twin Towers..." was installed on a platform in the upper gallery of the museum over the course of six days. It was completed on September 11, 2011. The spice installation was on display for the next several weeks, including the 2 weeks of the Art Prize competition. The GRAM was a great venue for the project -- a beautiful museum with a guaranteed audience, thanks to Art Prize, of over 100,000 people! Here is a quick show of how printing went that last Sunday, starting with the application of clear acrylic gel medium onto sheets of cotton canvas... photos by Dianne Carroll Burdick unless noted. Placing Laying down the canvas for the first print "Twin Towers..." was made only of loose spices, seeds and colored sugar, carefully placed on a felt mat. It was on display for about 3 weeks. Initially, it was left unrestricted so people could get really close to it. But when the ArtPrize competition got in full swing, stanchions were placed around it so it didn't get destroyed by all the kids who were touching it. Coincidentally, all their fingerprints do make for a more interesting print... After we put the clear acrylic gel medium onto a piece of canvas, Tim and I carefully placed it face down on top of the spices... Rubbing Rolling and rubbing it down so the spices really stick! The GRAM provided ample space for the new installation as well as for background material consisting of three spice prints from a previous war rug installation, and several examples of real war rugs. We produced a booklet about the project and a series of business cards that displayed many images from the series. All these together generated lots of questions about the origin of the patterns (carpets woven by Afghanis since the 1970s), the spices used (sesame, ginger, poppy, cumin, oregano, hot red pepper, flour and salt, nutmeg and colored sugar (the blue)), and what keeps it there (gravity!). Once the gelled-up canvas was placed onto the spices, we began rubbing it thoroughly to make sure that the first layer adhered well. Revealing Lifting off the first print. Carefully lifting it up, you could see the impression take hold. All that color is made from spices, not from paint or pigment. It is embedded into the clear acrylic medium. It is always a surprise to see what happens. And notice how the image is transferred in reverse -- like in a mirror -- which is a bit disconcerting, especially if you are used to the original orientation. Voila! Voila! Here you can see what it looks like. The blank spaces are where the spices had been disturbed. And the smears are especially evident near the top side that I'm holding. Everyone clapped, and we took a little bow. Drying All laid out to dry. We did this three times, making three unique prints, each adhering fewer spices than before. We laid them out to dry for the rest of the afternoon on plastic tarps. Remains The last one and what remained on the mat. Here is what remained of the entire installation -- the ginger powder of the sky, the white flour of the flag and the explosions, some of the poppyseeds and cinnamon. The third print is next to the mat, and you can see how the pattern has dissolved. These last prints are always my favorites -- the pattern becomes abstract and loose. Three Prints "Twin Towers- Tribute Rug Carpet-9/11 2001- USA History" edition 1, 2 and 3 of 3. With apologies for my not-so-hot photography, here you can see the fruits of our labor. Three prints of "Twin Towers- Tribute Rug Carpet-9/11 2001- USA History." Starting on the left with the first pull, and gradually disintegrating through the third. Once they are mounted and framed, the final stage will be up to nature and UV radiation. Some of the spices will fade and transform. The blue into clear sugar crystals... the red pepper into a sienna brown... the poppy from blue to a greyish cast. And perhaps some other changes I can't forsee! And the winner was... Crucifixion by Mia Tavonatti won first place at Art Prize by popular vote, and the prize of $250,000. Congratulations to her and all the top 10. Special shout-out to 2nd place winners, Chicagoans Tracy Van Duinen, Todd Osborne, Andrea Bellomo and Phil Schuster for their ambitious mosaic mural, Metaphorest. It is nice for Grand Rapids to have several examples of their work throughout the city, as it is for us Chicagoans to have some too. photo by David Guthrie, licensed Creative Commons on Flickr Heartfelt Thanks! Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has emailed, donated, visited, and shared this project with their friends. It has been a tremendous experience -- because of you! Alpha Bruton :: Julie Banzhaf Stone :: Robert J. Tassone :: Chuck Thurow :: William Zbaren and Robert Sharoff :: Delphine Cannon :: Katharine Banzhaf :: Beverly Koenen (thanks Mom!) :: Duane Fimreite :: Janet Carl Smith :: Pat Casler :: Alicia Berg :: Michelle Boone :: Deborah and Glenn Doering :: Carrie Hanson :: Jackie Kazarian :: Pooja Vukosavich :: Chris Gent :: Shirley Patton :: Kristin Dean :: Kristin Patton :: Carolina Jayaram :: Laura Samson :: Esther Grimm :: Karen Paluzzi Steele :: Carol Reisinger :: Dr. David Hinkamp :: Marguerite Horberg :: Dianna Frid :: Annie Morse :: Doug VanderHoof :: Neiman Brothers :: Tim Samuelson :: Alison Neidt Toonen :: Lynn Basa :: Mary Wittig :: John Vinci :: Jane Bretl :: Iain Muirhead :: Adam Brooks :: Deborah Boardman :: Lisa Roberts :: Rob + Elizabeth, Samantha, Daniel and Max!! and several anonymous donors. You are all terrific!! We have 7 days to raise $35 more dollars (!!) to get the whole $5,000 needed for this phase of the project. I am working on the gifts now and excited to be putting together some lovely overviews of the project for all its supporters. If you'd still like to help out, click here to learn more. Here is a link to my website, where you can see photos of this project and others from the series, as well as paintings and more artwork. Let me know if you'd like to do a studio visit to see the prints and rugs in person. It would be delightful to show them to you. koenen@gmail.com You are receiving this newsletter from artist Barbara Koenen because I thought you might be interested in my artwork. If that is incorrect, my apologies and please unsubscribe at the link below. Thank you! Making the Olive Branch, September 8, 2011

Enews 10/14/11 "War Rug Project Update 4"

Barbara Koenen :: WAR RUG PROJECT UPDATE 4 Making + Talking Competing Distress Revelation Thanks Remembering The WAR RUG PROJECT @ the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) runs through October 9, 2011. Join us Oct 9 :: War Rug Printmaking Sunday 2 pm @ the GRAM Making + Talking Making + Talking, Sept 10, 2011 "Twin Towers- Tribute Rug Carpet-9/11 2001- USA History" was completed on the morning of Sunday, September 11, 2011 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The finishing touch was to place the firecracker fringe that Tim made underneath. Made only of loose spices, seeds and colored sugar, the installation took about six days to construct. It replicates a 9/11 war rug I purchased on Ebay a few months ago, and its title comes from the real rug's Ebay listing. I find Afghan War Rugs fascinating and tragic, as they are artifacts that reflect the effect of war and strife on a centuries-old tradition, and they are woven by women with little voice in Afghan society. I was fortunate to be able to build the rug while the museum was open, and had many conversations with people in the process. Lots of questions about the origin of the patterns (carpets woven by Afghanis since the 1970s), the spices used (sesame, ginger, poppy, cumin, oregano, hot red pepper, flour and salt, nutmeg and colored sugar (the blue)), and what keeps it there (gravity!). Did I weave the real carpets? (no, they are my muse). Were they made before September 11, 2001? (no). The museum staff and security guards were wonderful, enthusiastic, inquisitive and supportive. Also understandably concerned that something would happen to the fragile artwork. They were correct! The first impact happened just minutes before my talk, when a little boy dropped his toy onto it. Oops! But, the imperfection let the rug reveal itself for what it really is... Spices. We will pull prints of the installation on the last day of the show, Sunday October 9 at 2:00 pm. Join us! photo by Dianne Carroll Burdick Competing Looking, Sept 24, 2011 I originally started this to participate in Art Prize, which I had visited last year. When GRAM selected me, it was a terrific honor. Their exhibit opened in early September, coinciding with eerie perfection to the anniversary of 9/11. Thus, the War Rug Project installation was on view for two weeks before the Art Prize even began on Wednesday, Sept 21. Art Prize is an open art competition with the public as the judge. It takes place from Sept 21 - Oct 5 and really transforms the city. For two weeks, all of downtown Grand Rapids is crawling with people looking at and talking about art. Museums, corporate atriums, bank lobbies, resturants and pubs, hotels, empty storefronts, schools, churches, bridges, fountains and parking lots are taken over by 1500 artists. The range of work -- subject matter, sophistication, materials, techniques, is all over the map. And the range of people looking as well. From sophisticated afficianados to people who've never set foot in a museum before. Mostly the latter, I suspect. Lots of kids. A snapshot of democracy and an excellent audience for the War Rug Project. When Tim and I drove in that Friday night, we thought a concert must have just let out because there were so many people on the street. Not so. It was Art Prize. On Saturday, 29,000 people went through the museum. The GRAM is a beautiful "green" building (see pictures here), the first museum to be environmentally LEED-certified Gold. When it exceeds capacity -- if too many people are in the building (and breathing) -- the carbon dioxide that is exhaled sets off the building's CO2 monitor alarm. Then no one can enter until someone else leaves. That happened several times over the course of the day. Fortunately no one fainted ; )! Distress A little schumtz on the upper left corner. Once ArtPrize was in full swing, I joined many of the other artists who stood by their work and fielded questions. I lasted about a day. It was overwhelming! I decided to just leave the installation be, and trust people to figure it out. Tim had suggested I make some laminated books about the project, so they were available as were labels and a nice video that the museum produced. I joined my family and toured the city, looking at some of the other artworks. Some of my favorites, Mary Brogger's Persian Rug, Lindsay Obermeyer's Prairie Flowers, Nancy Gildart's Birds, Mike Grucza's Lake St. Lovely, a unique map of America made from cast iron pans, and a Barrel of Monkeys that took over a bridge. Meanwhile, my rug was left unattended for people to see and smell, to poke and pull. Many people were interested, a few very clearly didn't care for it. A man who was a 9/11 first responder introduced himself, as did a couple who had traveled in Afghanistan in the 1970s. It was fascinating to be able to talk with them. Then I noticed something I didn't anticipate. I knew the rug would get damaged, and suspected that once the distress reached a certain point, people would recognize it was not a real rug, and was fragile, and wouldn't touch it. That proved to be the case... except for little kids. They had no idea and were often much quicker than their parents. But what really surprised me was how many people blamed the museum for not taking care of the artwork. I probably should have known that would happen, but I assumed that people would understand ephemeral art. Maybe they'd seen a Buddhist sand mandala before. Certainly the GRAM staff really wanted to protect it, and only reluctantly indulged my desire that it remain unfettered. But people were upset, and several complained. What with that, and the kids, after a week, I decided to have the stanchions put back in place. I am sure everyone in Security breathed a big sign of relief. (Hopefully not setting off any CO2 alarms...!) photo by Peter Koenen Revelation More schmutz on the lower left. (Nice fringe, eh?) A friend once described the distresses that a war rug installation endures as letting the rug "reveal itself." You can see the day-by-day progress here. And read about the 9/11 rugs here. So, I didn't make the Top Ten at Art Prize. I won't be able to quit my job to be a full-time artist, or donate $125,000 to Afghan Women's causes. But it has been a wonderful experience in many, many ways, filled with family, friends, and perfect strangers who become friends. Artists and the rest of us, figuring out what it all means. Join us on Sunday if you can as we pull three prints of the spice installation, destroying and preserving it at the same time. 2:00 pm. Or, wait for the next e-newsletter for the play-by-play. And hopefully a video from my niece Samantha, who has been interviewing visitors for her class project. And more photos by Dianne and Rob Burdick and John Corriveau. photo by Peter Koenen Thanks Heartfelt thanks go to the friends of the War Rug Project. Your support makes a huge difference -- spiritually and financially. I could not do this without you! Alpha Bruton :: Julie Banzhaf Stone :: Robert J. Tassone :: Chuck Thurow :: William Zbaren and Robert Sharoff :: Delphine Cannon :: Katharine Banzhaf :: Beverly Koenen (thanks Mom!) :: Duane Fimreite :: Janet Carl Smith :: Pat Casler :: Alicia Berg :: Michelle Boone :: Deborah and Glenn Doering :: Carrie Hanson :: Anonymous :: Jackie Kazarian :: Pooja Vukosavich :: Chris Gent :: Shirley Patton :: Kristin Dean :: Kristin Patton :: Carolina Jayaram :: Laura Samson :: Esther Grimm :: Karen Paluzzi Steele :: Carol Reisinger :: Dr. David Hinkamp :: Marguerite Horberg :: Dianna Frid :: :: Annie Morse :: Doug VanderHoof :: Neiman Brothers :: Tim Samuelson :: Alison Neidt Toonen :: Lynn Basa :: Mary Wittig :: John Vinci :: Jane Bretl :: Iain Muirhead :: Adam Brooks :: Deborah Boardman :: Lisa Roberts :: and several anonymous donors. You are all terrific! Special thanks to Samantha, Max and Daniel Koenen, who have been wonderful hosts to their Aunt. And to Elizabeth, who is an amazing mom to them and sister in law to me. My little brother Rob, their dad and captain of the ship. And of course Tim, my love and sweetheart. I think we've raised the whole $5,000 needed for this phase of the project, but am still reconciling the Indie Gogo website with other contributions. Will start on gifts soon. If you'd still like to help out, click here to learn more. Heartfelt thanks to everyone!! Remembering Bob Cassilly (red) and Tim (blue) walking through Cementland last Fall. On a sadder note, our friend the visionary artist Bob Cassilly died last week. He was found in a bulldozer that had rolled on the grounds of his quixotic endeavor, Cementland. With Bob, though, what might seem quixotic to us would be completely realizable. Case in point, the City Museum, his masterwork in downtown St. Louis... Picture an old shoe factory that bursts at the seams with tunnels, dragons, pipe organs, 7-story jungle gyms, 10-story slides, ferris wheels and a cantilevered school bus teetering over the edge of the roof. Add a Circus, a Thrift Store, an architecture museum. Two Aquariums. The world's largest No. 2 pencil. Great pizza and a bar in an old log cabin. What a wonderful place. Bob's obituary in the New York Times, and our photos of Cementland from a visit last fall. Thanks, Bob, for sharing your wonder. You are receiving this newsletter from artist Barbara Koenen because I thought you might be interested in my artwork. If that is incorrect, my apologies and please unsubscribe at the link below. Thank you! photo by John Corriveau

Enews 09/18/11 War Rug Project Update 3

Barbara Koenen :: WAR RUG PROJECT UPDATE 3

Making Finishing Interest Art Prize Remembering Thanks The WAR RUG PROJECT @ the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) runs through October 9, 2011 . Art Prize runs from Sept. 21 - Oct 5. Vote for me # 41731 during the first week. Exhibition ends with a print pull on Sunday October 9 at 2 pm.

Making The War Rug Project installation at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is comprised of 3 framed monoprints of the Silk Road War Rug monoprints from 2006 (right), three original war rugs (left), a book, cards and the newly made 9/11 War Rug on a platform. Two of the original rugs are 9/11 war rugs, and one dates from the Soviet occupation in the early 1980s. That carpet is the larger one on the right, and it was the inspiration for the Silk Road prints. Oh yes, and that's me in the middle, working away with the spices. It was surprisingly moving to methodically render the twin towers, their windows, the jets and explosions in spices. It was a relief to make the flags and peace dove, with their big flat planes of color. And especially liberating to be able to make the aircraft carrier and the jets queuing up, all of which seemed quite free-form. Of course I wondered what the weavers thought about the images they were slowly making. The explosions have become flattened and abstracted and the words, originally in English describing the events of 9/11, are long obliterated, as the pattern has been repeated for a decade by weavers who could never read them in the first place. You can see the day-by-day progress here. And read about the 9/11 rugs here. photo by Dianne Carroll Burdick.

Finishing The completed spice installation, Sept 11, 2011 "Twin Towers- Tribute Rug Carpet-9/11 2001- USA History" was completed on the morning of Sunday, September 11, 2011 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. It is named after the title of the original war rug's Ebay listing. The spice installation took about 6 days to make, and It was great to be able to build it while the museum was open, and have many conversations with people while I was making it. Lots of questions about the origin of the patterns, the spices used (the blue is colored sugar), how the prints are made, and what keeps it there (gravity!). The finishing touch was to place the firecracker fringe border that Tim made underneath. Wonderful enthusiasm from the security staff, who are now very concerned that something will happen to the artwork. They are correct! I was there for the first impact, when a little boy dropped his toy onto it. Oops! But, the imperfection lets the rug reveal itself for what it really is. Spices. We will pull prints of the installation on the last day of the show, Sunday October 9 at 2:00 pm. Join us! photo by John Corriveau

Interest Demonstrating the popper firecrackers on the fringe for reporter Tori Pelz. So many family and friends made their way to the GRAM on Sunday, September 11 for my artist talk -- it was wonderful to be surrounded by people we love on that day. My talk went well (from what I hear) as did that of my colleague, the painter David Gillanders. Thanks to curator Cindy Buckner, who combined us as artists who use war as a springboard for philosophical and aesthetic investigations. Here are several articles and interviews about the project that you might enjoy: Fragrant Re-imagining of Afghan War Rugs: An Interview with artist Barbara Koenen by Tori Pelz, a reporter for the Rapidian who actually spent 6 months in Afghanistan in 2004. She interviewed me after my artist talk on 9/11, and I hope to return the favor soon. On the local news -- WZZM The GRAM video photo by Jonathon Timothy Stoner

Art Prize Art Prize is an open art competition and the public is the judge. It takes place from Sept 21 - Oct 5 throughout downtown Grand Rapids, and really transforms the city. The first week has voting for all the artists (thumbs up or down), and the second week is just the top 10. Voting is free, but all voters must register in person (so you can see the art in person!). The Art Prize website has info about places to stay, artist, venues, voting and more. Here is a schedule of events, in case you are able to come up to Grand Rapids. When I went last year I was amazed to see thousands of people walking all over downtown GR, and every one was looking at and talking about art. It is a phenomenal experience and fun for the whole family! If you come, let me know and we can try to connect (I'll be there on weekends.) And if you want to vote for me, I'm # 41731. Sept 21 - 28 :: Art Prize Round One Voting Sept 29 - Oct 5 :: Art Prize Top Ten Voting Oct 6 :: Art Prize Winner Announced Oct 9 :: War Rug Destruction / Printmaking 2 pm @ the GRAM Oct 9 :: Last Day of GRAM exhibition

Remembering September 11, 2011 came and went, and it was good to participate in such a wide spectrum of remembrance. A number of people made a point of coming to the museum to see the 9/11 rug. Veterans, families, even scouts! The War Rug Project helps create a space for contemplation and inclusiveness, ambiguity and complexity. Bear in mind the conservative estimation that between 12,000 and 14,000 Afghan civilians have been killed since 2001. They are killed by crossfire, improvised explosive devices, assassination, bombing, and night raids into houses of suspected insurgents. Unexploded ordnance from previous wars and from U.S. cluster bombs continue to kill after the fighting stops. As we remember 9/11, let's mourn for all the victims, and work together to make a real and lasting peace. And if you'd like to help, consider supporting one of these fine organizations. photo by Dianne Carroll Burdick

Thanks Heartfelt thanks go to the friends of the War Rug Project. Your support makes a huge difference -- spiritually and financially. I could not do this without you! Julie Banzhaf Stone :: Robert J. Tassone :: Chuck Thurow :: William Zbaren and Robert Sharoff :: Delphine Cannon :: Katharine Banzhaf :: Beverly Koenen (thanks Mom!) :: Duane Fimreite :: Janet Carl Smith :: Pat Casler :: Alicia Berg :: Michelle Boone :: Deborah and Glenn Doering :: Carrie Hanson :: Anonymous :: Jackie Kazarian :: Pooja Vukosavich :: Chris Gent :: Shirley Patton :: Kristin Dean :: Kristin Patton :: Carolina Jayaram :: Laura Samson :: Esther Grimm :: Karen Paluzzi Steele :: Carol Reisinger :: Dr. David Hinkamp :: Marguerite Horberg :: Dianna Frid :: :: Annie Morse :: Doug VanderHoof :: Neiman Brothers :: Tim Samuelson :: Alison Neidt Toonen :: Lynn Basa :: Mary Wittig :: John Vinci :: Jane Bretl :: Iain Muirhead :: Adam Brooks :: several anonymous donors!! Special thanks to Samantha, Max and Daniel Koenen, who have been wonderful hosts to their Aunt. And to Elizabeth, who is an amazing mom to them and sister in law to me. And my little brother Rob, the captain of the ship. And of course Tim, my love and sweetheart. I think we've raised the whole $5,000 needed for this phase of the project, but am still reconciling the Indie Gogo website with other contributions. Will start on gifts soon. If you'd still like to help out, click here to learn more. Many thanks to everyone!!

You are receiving this newsletter from artist Barbara Koenen because I thought you might be interested in my artwork. If that is incorrect, my apologies and please unsubscribe at the link below. Thank you!

Enews 09/09/11 War Rug Project Update 2

Barbara Koenen :: WAR RUG PROJECT UPDATE 2 Progress Support Schedule of Events :: Exhibition, Artist Talk and Art Prize 9/11 War Rugs, Then and Now 9/11 War Rugs, Then and Now, Pt. 2 Remembering 9/11 Heartfelt Thanks! The WAR RUG PROJECT runs through October 9, 2011 @ the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM). Progress End of Day 3 It is surprisingly moving to methodically render the twin towers, their windows, the jets and explosions in spices. Wondering what the weavers thought about the images they were slowly making, and making again and again. The words no longer mean anything to us, and never did to the weavers in the first place. Many people I've had conversations with in the past few days are fascinated by the war rugs, and unafraid of their complexity. I especially enjoyed my conversation with a dairy farmer, who is also a county commissioner -- and was checking out the art museum between meetings! We talked about land use issues, the satisfaction of farming, and art. It is reassuring. Support Max and Samantha collaborate on reverse engineering. Thanks to everyone's support, the 9/11 spice war rug is under construction at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM). My niece and nephew, Samantha and Max, helped with installing the three original Afghan war rugs, very straight and secure. They also figured out how to put the cards in the funny dispenser I designed. It took coordination and cooperation, and they did a great job. Later, Daniel came for the member opening and gave his approval. Bill Dougherty designed lovely frames for the 2006 war rug prints, and a solid platform for the new war rug. He did the heavy lifting on Sunday's install as well, always the professional. Other artists were humming throughout the museum as everyone put the finishing touches on their installations -- everything from bronze female warriors to crystal growing tube construction responding to barometric pressure, to a beautiful sculpture of a wheel and horse hair. Puryear-esque. Lovely. My neighbor has a series of paintings inspired by his grandfather's WW1 reconnaissance flights. Shades of Chuck Close as a landscape painter, thinking about what one sees when traveling fast and at altitude. Beautiful blurs. Schedule of Events :: Exhibition, Artist Talk and Art Prize I'm looking forward to my artist talk this Sunday, September 11, at 2 pm at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM). Hopefully the rug will be done by then too, and we can place the fringe underneath as a finishing touch. Join me if you can! The GRAM show consists of the 30 artists they selected for Art Prize. It runs from September 7 - October 9. Nestled within that time is the actual Art Prize event, running from Sept 21 - October 6. Art Prize is an open competition and the public is the judge. The first week has voting for all the artists, and the second week is just the top 10. Voting is free, but all voters must register in person (so you can see the art in person!). The Art Prize website has info about places to stay, artist, venues, voting and more. Here is a schedule of events, in case you are able to come up to Grand Rapids for the installation or Art Prize or both. When I went last year I loved seeing thousands of people walking all over downtown GR, all looking at and talking about art. It is interesting and fun for the whole family! Sept 8 - 11 :: War Rug Construction 10 am - 2 pm (at least) @ the GRAM Sept 11 :: My Artist Talk 2 pm @ the GRAM Sept 21 - 28 :: Art Prize Round One Voting Sept 29 - Oct 5 :: Art Prize Top Ten Voting Oct 6 :: Art Prize Winner Announced Oct 9 :: War Rug Destruction / Printmaking 2 pm @ the GRAM Oct 9 :: Last Day of GRAM exhibition 9/11 War Rugs, Then and Now Lynn's 9-11 War Rug from 2001 War rugs originate from the 1979 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, and mostly depict patterns of weapons, and sometimes maps of specific events or places. 9/11 Rugs appeared shortly after the terrorist attacks in 2001 and subsequent US invasion of Afghanistan. Last month, we purchased a new "9/11" war rug on Ebay, and then my friend, the artist Lynn Basa, lent me one she purchased shortly after the attack in 2001. It's interesting to compare the two. Both rugs depict the World Trade Center with jets flying into the twin towers simultaneously, which didn't really happen. It looks as though the image was based on a collage of media photographs from the separate attacks. Both rugs depict US and Afghan flags, with a superimposed dove of peace linking them. The he outline of Afghanistan is in the background, and the base of the composition has a US aircraft carrier with jets queuing on board and taking off, and a missle being launched. 9/11 War Rugs, Then and Now, Pt. 2 My 9/11 War Rug, dating from 2011. But notice the differences between the earlier war rug and the recent iteration. In 2001, all the words are in English, and very legible. There is a lot of detail, especially in the line drawings of helicopter, jets and the windows of the World Trade Center. The palette is very simple and reductive, and curiously, the stars of US flag are reversed. In the same way that a cartoon that has been xeroxed or faxed over and over eventually loses its meaning, or when the game of Telephone ends up telling a different story after being whispered in so many ears, much of the detail in the new version of the 9/11 War Rug doesn't read like the original. None of the words are legible, except the year "2001" and the letters "USA". There is more color and experimentation with the design, and the jet explosions have become oddly flattened. Many X's fill in the background, depicting, perhaps, explosions, mines or casualties (experienced or anticipated). Thousands of these rugs have been made since 2001, yet it is virtually impossible to know who the original artist is, or who the many different weavers now are. They may be in Afghanistan or in a refugee camp in Pakistan. They are probably women, possibly children, and quite possibly confined to their home, illiterate and forbidden to leave unescorted by a male relative. These rugs are collected by soldiers, including General Tommy Franks who famously bought a bunch as souvenirs and gifts when he retired, and by people like me. They have almost no value for commercial rug dealers, yet they continue to be made, as the tragedy continues to evolve and people need somehow to remember. Remembering 9/11 Our nation is bracing itself to remember the horror of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93 as we approach its 10th anniversary. The whole world continues to feel the effects of this tragedy, with heightened security, fear and unease now much more a part of daily life, and the emotional and physical scars of the victims, our armed forces, and their families will be endured for years to come. Its just as important, though, to remember all the innocent people in Afghanistan who have been affected by the events of 9/11. And those in Iraq and even Pakistan. So many of them are women and children, powerless victims without control over their surroundings. It is conservatively estimated that betwen 12,000 and 14,000 Afghan civilians have been killed since 2001. They are killed by crossfire, improvised explosive devices, assassination, bombing, and night raids into houses of suspected insurgents. Unexploded ordnance from previous wars and from U.S. cluster bombs continue to kill after the fighting stops. The hospitals in Afghanistan are treating increasing numbers of amputees and burn patients, and in 2009, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health said two-thirds of Afghans suffer mental health problems. As we remember 9/11, let's expand our mourning for all the victims, and work together to make a real and lasting peace. Let us not abandon them, but let us not assume dominion either. And if you'd like to help, consider supporting one of these fine organizations. Heartfelt Thanks! Heartfelt thanks go to the friends of the War Rug Project. Your support means so much -- spiritually as well as financially. I could not do this without you! Julie Banzhaf Stone :: Robert J. Tassone :: Chuck Thurow :: William Zbaren and Robert Sharoff :: Delphine Cannon :: Katharine Banzhaf :: Beverly Koenen (thanks Mom!) :: Duane Fimreite :: Janet Carl Smith :: Pat Casler :: Alicia Berg :: Michelle Boone :: Deborah and Glenn Doering :: Carrie Hanson :: Anonymous :: Jackie Kazarian :: Pooja Vukosavich :: Chris Gent :: Shirley Patton :: Kristin Dean :: Kristin Patton :: Carolina Jayaram :: Laura Samson :: Esther Grimm :: Karen Paluzzi Steele :: Carol Reisinger :: Dr. David Hinkamp :: Marguerite Horberg :: Dianna Frid :: :: Annie Morse :: Doug VanderHoof :: Neiman Brothers :: Tim Samuelson :: Alison Neidt Toonen :: Lynn Basa :: Rob, Elizabeth, Samantha, Max and Daniel Koenen We're close to raising the whole $5,000 needed for this phase of the project. If you'd like to help out, click here to learn more. You are receiving this newsletter from artist Barbara Koenen because I thought you might be interested in my artwork. If that is incorrect, my apologies and please unsubscribe at the link below. Thank you!