On Saturday, September 11, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) will present a talk by artist/activist Richard Kamler.
In recognition of the third anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Kamler will discuss his visionary international initiative ‘Seeing Peace, Artists Collaborate with the United Nations.’ Asking what would have happened had Picasso painted Guernica before the bombs fell, Kamler and his collaborators are working with the U.N. to create an event for International Peace Day (September 21) in 2005. One artist from each of the 191 U.N.–member nation will come to the table in the General Assembly and engage in a special session devoted to art and peace. An accompanying event is planned for San Francisco.
Kamler will also show slides from 3 projects from the past to contextualize ‘Seeing Peace’ as part of his ongoing investigations into art as an agent for social change and cultural transformation.
Since 1976 Kamler has been making public installations, sound pieces, actions, events, drawings, and public presentations addressing social and environmental issues. His work has been shown in public spaces, galleries, and museums both nationally and internationally. He has received many grants and awards; among them a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a California Arts Council Fellowship, an Artist Fellowship from George Soros Open Society Institute, a grant from the Richard C. Blum Family Foundation, Zellerbach Family Fund, and LEF Foundation. Kamler is currently the chair of the art department at the University of San Francisco.
Seeing Peace
Saturday, September 11 at 2 p.m.
Phyllis Wattis Theater, SFMOMA
151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard streets)
This special event is free with Museum admission.