Reaching Out

When I began this project, I just intending to fold cranes to symbolize the soldiers killed in Iraq. I knew that this was going to be a huge undertaking. But then I added the cranes to represent the Iraqis who have died, and I knew I was going to be needing help. Folding 100,000 or more cranes is not something that an individual does unless they plan to spend a lifetime doing it. This was going to take the help of many individuals.

A number of people have stepped up and offered their skills and time. It is appreciated in ways I can not begin to express. One small way I have tried to honor them is to profile them here on the blog so that it becomes clear that this is a community project. A global community. Connected by face-to-face meetings, or by the virtual connections of the internet. Other artists met at shows. Family. My dentist and her assistant. Kids on a school field trip bus. Readers of this blog. Friends in my local community.

Yet, it has become clear that I need to do more. There are ways that I can symbolize the number of Iraqis beyond having the cranes, but my desire is to get those cranes made, one way or another. I knew I had to reach outside my comfort zone to people who had a wider community than my own.

Another person here in Massachusetts is folding cranes and leaving them here and there to be found. Each has a quote or a poem, or a drawing, symbolizing peace. I visit her blog from time to time to see where she has left cranes, and what sorts of inspiration she is writing on the cranes. On a recent visit I spotted the link to Yoko Ono's website, Imagine Peace. I popped over there for another visit to her site. As I read what was new on the site, I spotted the link to Facebook. Hmmmmm......

Before I could think myself out of it, I was writing her a message to tell her about the project. Yesterday morning as I went through my emails, there was one with the subject line, "Yoko Ono sent you a message on Facebook". No way! Yes, way!

It included two links. One to the main page of her website, and another to a page on her website with my note, images of the cranes, and her response. Check it out!




Last but not least, I formed a Facebook group. I hope this will be another way to reinforce the community aspect of the project, and encourage others to take part. If you are on Facebook, please join in. Write on the wall, start a discussion.

All this work to promote the project, and get help with the waxed paper cranes, has left me about five days behind on the crane production schedule. But the target will continue as planned, and I will catch up in time.