The World is Listening to Students @ The Bridge Gallery in LA City Hall

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct. 4, 2012 - "What is in your heart? – The world is listening to students" is an exhibition featuring heartfelt expressions from high school students across Los Angeles that will be on display at the Bridge Gallery in City Hall October 5 through November 5, 2012.  The exhibition documents the journey of high school students with Petra Eiko’s the-green-heart project over the course of two years.

In 2011, artist Petra Eiko and Los Angeles Education Partnership, a nonprofit organization that fosters great schools in Los Angeles to support the personal and academic success of children and youth, collaborated to bring “the-green-heart project” into schools.  The-green-heart has had ten installations so far in Los Angeles high schools and was an incredible success.  The response from the students was amazing.

The-green-heart, a brain child of Eiko, is a traveling interactive art installation with the purpose to unite people of all walks of life with one question: “What is in your heart? – The world is listening.”  To show what truly moves us and how we all share common dreams and challenges, she created a large scale art piece that has been displayed successfully in several locations throughout California. The project invites viewers to contemplate on life and love and anonymously share their thoughts, wishes and hopes by expressing them on paper and posting them on her art piece.

To accommodate the multiple school sites, Eiko redesigned and scaled the-green-heart down and the students were provided with all the necessary materials to run the project.  Humanitas students led the-green-heart project in the following high schools: Santee Education Complex, Social Justice Humanitas Academy, Grant, Lincoln, Roosevelt, San Fernando and Carson.  

Thousands of students participated.  The-green-heart student ambassadors from each school worked in teams and designed schedules, promotions and the execution of the project.  LAEP conducted a press release workshop for the students.  Periodic site visits from LAEP and Eiko to each school were welcomed by students who vividly reported their experiences with the project.  

What started out with single sheets of paper ended in classrooms and hallways covered from floor to ceiling with meaningful posts and artwork. The students enjoyed the-green-heart as a safe space to express themselves anonymously. Reading the experiences and feelings of fellow classmates opened new lines of communication and understanding.  ”Not only does the-green-heart project give us the opportunity to say anything without getting bullied and without judgment — we also made new friends,” said a student.

Curated by Petra Eiko, this exhibition combines student work from all seven high schools into one unique art installation of thoughts, dreams and ideas.  It will be on display until November 5, 2012.  The Bridge Gallery, part of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, is located between the two buildings on the third floor of Los Angeles City Hall: 201 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Visiting hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.

More info: www.the-green-heart.com • facebook: what is in your heart? – the world is listening to students.

Youtube Channel:  PetraEiko100

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11990938/1