Remembering the silenced in Colombia
Central to host national premiere of Lutheran World Relief exhibit
by Joe Bjordal
The National Day of Prayer for Colombia, Sunday, April 18, will be commemorated in a significant way at Central as “Remember Me: Voices of the Silenced in Colombia” opens a two-year, national tour. The exhibit, or “gallery of memory” has been created by Lutheran World Relief (LWR) to bring awareness of 50 years of violence and brutality in Colombia—a conflict that has literally affected every social and economic class; every village; every city.
The gallery of memory is a world-class exhibit of modern art, drawings and crafts from Colombia—all connected to the tens of thousands of persons who have “gone missing” and whose voices are silenced. Among the objects is a quilt made by a mother from the clothing of her five daughters, who were abducted and never heard from again. Several of the displays and art pieces are three-dimensional and interactive.
The gallery focuses on well-documented events in three Colombian villages, said Mary Duvall, midwest grassroots advocacy organizer for Lutheran World Relief. “The gallery will contain testimonies, interviews and objects relating to these events,” she said. “These recollections will illustrate the life and experiences of victims of violence in these three communities.”
Members of Central’s events and public relations staff got a preview of the gallery’s art and displays on February 4 and all agreed that viewing the exhibit will be a moving—and at times painful—experience.
One of the 15 display panels that will be part of the Colombia Gallery of Memory in addition to many items of original art.
The gallery will be open days and evenings from April 18 to May 3 and will then tour the midwest for a year before heading to the East Coast. The exhibit will also be coordinated with an advocacy campaign “to educate Lutherans about the situation in Colombia, while empowering individuals and congregations to take action through LWR,” said Andi Twiton, program assistant for public policy and advocacy in the Minneapolis office of Lutheran World Relief.
The April 18 launch will bring the Rev. John Nunes, LWR president, to Central. He will bring greetings during worship, present an adult forum between services and speak at an expanded luncheon gathering of the Joint Peace with Justice Committee of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Area Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at 12:30 p.m. The luncheon, which will also present two women from Colombia—both victims of the violence—will be the official opening of the exhibit. A number of evening programs are planned during the exhibit’s run which will bring college and seminary students to Central. The exhibit will also be open on Friday, April 23, when Central hosts the opening worship service of the 2010 Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly.
Central to host national premiere of Lutheran World Relief exhibit
February 5, 2010
by Joe Bjordal
The National Day of Prayer for Colombia, Sunday, April 18, will be commemorated in a significant way at Central as “Remember Me: Voices of the Silenced in Colombia” opens a two-year, national tour. The exhibit, or “gallery of memory” has been created by Lutheran World Relief (LWR) to bring awareness of 50 years of violence and brutality in Colombia—a conflict that has literally affected every social and economic class; every village; every city.
The gallery of memory is a world-class exhibit of modern art, drawings and crafts from Colombia—all connected to the tens of thousands of persons who have “gone missing” and whose voices are silenced. Among the objects is a quilt made by a mother from the clothing of her five daughters, who were abducted and never heard from again. Several of the displays and art pieces are three-dimensional and interactive.
The gallery focuses on well-documented events in three Colombian villages, said Mary Duvall, midwest grassroots advocacy organizer for Lutheran World Relief. “The gallery will contain testimonies, interviews and objects relating to these events,” she said. “These recollections will illustrate the life and experiences of victims of violence in these three communities.”
Members of Central’s events and public relations staff got a preview of the gallery’s art and displays on February 4 and all agreed that viewing the exhibit will be a moving—and at times painful—experience.
One of the 15 display panels that will be part of the Colombia Gallery of Memory in addition to many items of original art.
The gallery will be open days and evenings from April 18 to May 3 and will then tour the midwest for a year before heading to the East Coast. The exhibit will also be coordinated with an advocacy campaign “to educate Lutherans about the situation in Colombia, while empowering individuals and congregations to take action through LWR,” said Andi Twiton, program assistant for public policy and advocacy in the Minneapolis office of Lutheran World Relief.
The April 18 launch will bring the Rev. John Nunes, LWR president, to Central. He will bring greetings during worship, present an adult forum between services and speak at an expanded luncheon gathering of the Joint Peace with Justice Committee of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Area Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at 12:30 p.m. The luncheon, which will also present two women from Colombia—both victims of the violence—will be the official opening of the exhibit. A number of evening programs are planned during the exhibit’s run which will bring college and seminary students to Central. The exhibit will also be open on Friday, April 23, when Central hosts the opening worship service of the 2010 Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly.
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