Many parents are concerned that today's children are inundated with violent toys, videos, and computer games. Teachers who share that concern are working on an innovative art project to transform war toys into peace art.
Coquitlam teacher Susan Ruzic first consulted with parents, colleagues, and administrators before launching her appeal for students to donate war toys to create peace sculptures. "The children have responded enthusiastically," Ruzic said. "The toy donation box at our school is overflowing!"
Ruzic is one of many local teachers volunteering on the International Peace Education Conference, which will take place June 25-27 as part of the World Peace Forum. Local artist Bill Thomson will work with students to create peace sculptures that will be displayed at the UBC Museum of Anthropology.
Teachers are also being encouraged to pre-register their classes for workshops to transform their war toys into peace art. Workshops are being offered at the Museum of Anthropology on May 8, 9, 10 and June 20, 21, 22 and will be facilitated by artists, teachers, and MOA staff. (Space is limited and requires advance registration.) A selection of work made from the workshops or as classroom projects will be exhibited at the Museum of Anthropology from June 20, 2006.
"This is an exciting opportunity to see how the toys can be transformed and to get students thinking about how they can make our world more peaceful today," Ruzic said. To learn more, please join us for a news conference:
Monday, May 1, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
The Coquitlam Teachers' Association office
#208 - 2502 St. John's Street, Port Moody, BC
Coquitlam Mayor Maxine Wilson and Port Coquitlam Mayor Scott Young are both supporting the project and will attend the news conference, along with BCTF President Jinny Sims, Coquitlam Teachers' Association President Kathleen Thomson, and Jill Baird, curator of education at the Museum of Anthropology.
For more information about the peace art project, please contact Jill Baird at 604-827-5618 or Susan Ruzic at 604-762-2806. For more information about the International Peace Education Conference, please contact Jane Turner at 604-871-1871.
- 30 -