"Welcome
to Gulu”,
a
exhibition curated by acclaimed American painter
Ross Bleckner on behalf of the UN Office on
Drugs and Crime and the International Criminal
Court’s Trust Fund for Victims, opened at a star
studded gala held at the United Nations on May
12th 2009. The benefit exhibition
and art sale featured 200 paintings created by
former child soldiers and abducted girls from
Gulu, Uganda. The New York Times has described
the paintings as “luminous” (see “For Child
Soldiers, a Chance to Wield Brushes, Not Arms”
by Randy Kennedy New York Times 28 April 2009).
Proceeds raised by the sale of the children’s
paintings, as well as portraits taken by
Bleckner, will benefit former child soldiers and
abducted girls.
In recent years,
Gulu and other areas of Northern Uganda, have
been plagued by rebel groups abducting,
recruiting and conscripting thousands of
children, forcing boys to be killers and girls
to be sexual slaves. In January 2009, Bleckner
joined the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) and the International Criminal
Court Trust Fund for Victims on an official
mission to Gulu, assisting in the rehabilitation
of former child soldiers and abducted girls
through art therapy. Bleckner conducted a
workshop for these children, encouraging them to
come to terms with their past through artistic
expression. To learn more, go to:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/costas-corner/descent-into-the-heart-of-darkness.html.
To view the BBC News feature on this project, go
to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8045702.stm
Ross Bleckner
first came to international prominence in the
1980’s with his abstract paintings. His work
has been exhibited in esteemed collections
throughout the world, including: The Guggenheim,
MoMA, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
For the past 20 years, he has taught Studio Art
at leading institutions (currently at NYU’s
Steinhardt School). An early supporter of AIDS
research, Bleckner has been a board member of
ACRIA (AIDS Community Research Initiative of
America) since its founding, and spent more than
a decade as its President. On the occasion of
the opening of the 12 May 2009, “Welcome to Gulu”
exhibition, Mr.
Bleckner, was
appointed a United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human
Trafficking. Said appointment marks the first
time an artist has been bestowed the honor of
becoming a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
As a UNODC Goodwill
Ambassador, Bleckner’s duties will include
advocacy on behalf of victims of human
trafficking and other crimes.
The United Nations
culled a distinguished group of leaders in the
arts, entertainment and business communities to
attend and support the “Welcome to Gulu” opening
at the United Nations on 12 May. Among those
attending the opening were: Academy Award
winning actor Nicolas Cage; Academy Award
nominated actor Alec Baldwin; actress
Famke Janssen; acclaimed artists Ross
Bleckner, Tony Romano, Jeff Koons,
Chuck Close, and Brice Marden;
designers Donna Karan, Calvin Klein,
and Rachel Roy; “The View’s” Joy Behar;
Academy Award nominated director/writer/producer
Terry George ("Hotel Rwanda", "In the
Name of the Father"); acclaimed director Antoine
Fuqua (“Training Day”); Karenna Gore Schiff;
ABC News Nightline Anchor Cynthia
McFadden; ABC News Anchor Deborah
Roberts; Agnes Gund (MoMA’s
President
Emerita); Thelma
Golden (Chief Curator The Studio Museum in
Harlem); and art collectors Eli and Edythe
Broad. Also in attendance were the UN
Secretary General and 45 Ambassadors.
The United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the lead UN
agency fighting all forms of human trafficking
including: sexual slavery, child soldiering,
forced labor, illegal adoption, and illegal
organ transfers.
UNODC works with
governments, NGOs, the private sector,
foundations, the arts and media community,
academia and think-tanks to combat human
trafficking by raising public awareness,
engaging in preventative efforts and
enhancing the capacity and skills of criminal
justice professionals and policymakers.
United Nations
Under-Secretary General, Antonio Maria Costa,
the Executive-Director of the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime reflects: “Art
is one of the most powerful advocacy tools to
raise awareness and move people to take action.
A painting says a thousand words.
Ross Bleckner’s
exhibition provides a unique opportunity to
implore others to join us in our fight against
conscription of children, and other forms of
human trafficking and modern day slavery.
We know that Ross’ extraordinary commitment to
the plight of trafficking victims will move
people to take action against modern day
slavery.”
After the May 12
event, a selection of artwork was placed on view
in Manhattan’s prestigious Lehman Maupin
Gallery, and renown designer Donna Karan’s Urban
Zen shop in the Hamptons. Inspired by the
work and creativity of St. Thomas artist Tony
Romano, The United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime and Ross Bleckner would be honoured to
next bring the “Welcome to Gulu” exhibition to
St. Thomas for a gala benefit and art sale.
www.endhumantraffickingnow.com