ARK... Global Journeys for Young People to Build Peace
ARTS from ARK Director, Judy Maghakian
What are the personal arts that we all need to start birthing? They include the art of friendship, the art of making beauty where we dwell, the art of conversation, of gentle touch, of laughter, of preparing food, of hospitality, of the sharing of ideas, of growing food and flowers, of singing songs, of telling stories, of uniting all ages, of putting on skits, of laughing at human folly. The personal arts include the acts of listening and of healing, of enjoying oneself with others, the art of conviviality, the art of parenting and of forgiving. These personal arts are, I propose, what constitute the formation of who we are as persons.
ARK, from its birth, has encouraged each of us to engage in everyone’s life. To lose ourselves as we find one another. To celebrate the harmony of being a Family together as we walk the path of peace into a world hungry for beauty, belonging, meaning, focus, purpose in living together.
So, during June 2017 into 2018, we will continue walking this path as artists of peace building. We will be open to listen to one another as we share what we see, learn, feel, live along this path that Matas has invited all of us to join him on. And we will cherish the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson who shared:
“WHAT LIES BEHIND US AND WHAT LIES BEFORE US
ARE TINY MATTERS, COMPARED TO WHAT LIES WITHIN US.”
YOU ARE THE ARTISTS. YOU ARE THE CO-CREATOR WITH GOD
TO DESIGN AND LIVE INTO A WORLD OF PEACE, IT LIES WITHIN YOU.
Seek out the artists in your own community, family, country. Ask them questions about their work. Look for beauty all around you and draw it or write about it. Bring what you have seen and felt to the next ARK and be open to sharing with your ARK Family. Art is not an end in itself. It introduces the soul into a higher spiritual order, which it expresses and in some sense explains what peace is. Art is music, dance, poetry, words, painting, singing sharing food, laughing, playing an instrument, beating a drum, watching a sun rise or howling at the moon. Again, thank you for your vision for the ARTS FOR PEACE PROJECT as we prepare for our next Summit.
ARTS FOR PEACE A VISION OF MATAS DRUKTEINIS
ARK PARTICIPANT FROM LITHUANIA
When Matas arrived in Guatemala for the 5th Summit of ARK, he immediately became an energetic and powerful force. It was love at first sight for him and for the ARK Family. Dalia, Lithuania coordinator, asked Matas to design a SEED PROJECT ON MUSIC as we gather for our next ARK Summit in 2018. Matas eagerly responded “not music only, but the importance of the whole of art in the process of peace building.” And even though Matas has composed a successful symphony work, which was performed by the Lithuanian symphony orchestra, he has enlarged on this accomplishment by engaging in a new project. The purpose of this project is to work with musicians from different countries on the theme: MUSIC IN PEACE BUILDING. Listen to Matas' music.
This is the vision Matas has challenged ARK:
"We decided not to work on music alone, but the importance of the whole of art in the process of peace building. We believe that understanding, tolerance and peace comes with knowledge and experience. Arts and culture represent nation or country, moreover it can show true life, reality and feelings of different social groups or communities. Our SEED PROJECT is ARTS FOR PEACE, there is a database of artists and art pieces analyzing peace. This SEED PROJECT, begun this month, will be continuous and expanded worldwide in 2018 when ARK meets again. It will be the groundwork for international art projects, exhibitions, performances and concerts that could be planned in the future and world to carry the message of peace to the whole human family.” Matas
WOW! And can you imagine connecting all of this with our partner, the Covenant Church in New York City? I can imagine Rev. Cornell lighting up with awesome creativity! There is an artist within each one of us, and so the artist’s task belongs to us all. Sharing personal arts that will lead to an experience of the creation of peace by each one of us in the ARK Family.
Thank you Matas! Judy Maghakian, ARK Director
INTERNATIONAL ARK COORDINATOR, SAMI ABU GHAZALEH
Will Attend Summit in Los Angeles, CA
Sami Abu Ghazaleh, ARK coordinator from Palestine, will attend a Celebrate Recovery Summit in Los Angeles, CA in August. After which he will make a side trip to Minneapolis to share and celebrate with the ARK family.
Celebrate Recovery® is a biblical and balanced program that helps overcome hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Sami is also an active member of the Healing the Living Stones Program whose mission is to equip and empower Believers in the Middle East to counsel, care and heal their families, congregations and neighbors. Healing the Living Stones has a far-reaching goal to help Abraham’s Kids (guides Jews, Christians, and Muslims in interreligious dialogue.) not only accept one another but also love one another.
More details in the July ARK newsletter...
JAZZ VESPERS AT CHURCH OF THE COVENANT
SAVE THE DATE!
Friday, June 30, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Music at Covenant Coffee House
with Classical Guitarist - Guy West (from Philly).
“WE HAVE THE BEST CHURCH COFFEE ON 42ND STREET.”
JUNE NEWS FROM THE ARK FAMILY
We are ARK in San Lucas, Guatemala: Douglas, Juan, Dustin, Jessica, Candelaria, Leonel, Lourdes and Gerson. We will be meeting mid-June when we all come to San Lucas from our University study. We will discuss the themes and emotions that everyone is thinking. We will get together to renew our commitment.
We know that ARK had to be changed to next summer. We will be waiting for the place and dates chosen for the next ARK. I consider that the Guatemalan group has much to contribute because many of us are working in organizations that want the development of our country and we have many things in our hearts that we want to contribute to our country and the world.
I know all the other ARK countries are working hard. We will respond to emails on time as we deal with issues that are important.
We are thankful for ARK that has put us on the path to education and service in organizations that help development of our country.” With love, Douglas Rocche
The Malawi ARK Family is very grateful for the opportunity to grow and be part of a global family that is making a difference. Thank you! My wedding was beautiful and full of promises of happiness. I thank you for wishing me happiness.
Chikondi is making us all very proud as he works with students at his high school. He looks forward to receiving the science research equipment and material Judy has promised.
We will send the SEED PROJECT that will prepare us for our next summit.”
Love and peace to everyone, Favour
I am directing a big FOLKLORIC FESTIVAL that involves many young people in Lithuania. We are all aware of the tension in the USA because of Trump. We are very aware of the tension in our own Baltic area. We fear that Russia could attack any of us as they did the Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014. We are grateful for the protection and concern of NATO. I share all of this so you will remember your Lithuanian ARK Family in this difficult time in your love and prayers. We will sing for peace in the FOLKLORIC FESTIVAL.”
Lithuanians send peace to you, Dalia
We have elected a new president in Iran. There was lots of celebration in the streets as people were so happy to have elected a reformist over a hardliner with a large margin. We are full of hope and want to be engaged with the world. Unfortunately, this cry of engagement with the rest of the world fell on deaf ears as Trump was making his trips to Saudi Arabia and Israel. But Iranians are hopeful for the future. I hope the USA will not keep Iran at arms distance.” (Received June 2, 2017)
I am doing fine. Getting used to living here in Iran. I have a good job and know I am helping young people here. Iran has nowhere near the conveniences of the USA and I miss that, but then a real big plus is that I don’t look like a foreigner so people don’t immediately treat me differently. Like the USA with surprises each day because of Trump, we face surprises everyday here that challenge us.” (Received June 3)
“On Wednesday of last week we had two simultaneous terrorist attacks in the city that I live in. I take the metro every day to work due to it being so inexpensive, it is almost always packed with people If there was to be another attack, unfortunately the metro would be a great target, in general, however, Iran and the city I live in are very safe. Overall, life is back to normal but we are on alert . Thank you for your concern.” (Received Sunday, June 11)
Love and respect, Kumars
Send your ideas and suggestions to: mag@arkforpeace.org.
