Pearls of Wisdom: End the Violence. A community engagement project March 5, 2011

March 5, 2 - 4 pm Opening reception; Exhibition March 2-31.

PEARLS of WISDOM: END THE VIOLENCE is a compelling exhibition and installation by renowned artist Kim Abeles that tackles the vital social issue of domestic violence in a refreshing way. Free of past conceptions that regard survivors only as victims, or treats intimate partner violence as something to be hidden from view, Abeles publicly shares their life lessons as the vital source material for a long overdue social dialogue on domestic violence, and how it can be stopped.

Organized on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of A Window Between Worlds (AWBW), this exhibition at the Korean Cultural Center features the potent words, advice and images by more than 800 survivors and concerned community members. This two-year community engagement project, was created by Abeles in collaboration with AWBW to celebrate the collective power of art to forge courage and build momentum to end domestic violence.

Using the metaphor of valuable pearls formed inside oysters in response to an irritant, she designed a unique and transformative community art making workshop for participants to recast personal memories of domestic pain into iridescent objects significant of their courage, strength, solidarity and clear thinking.

The private wisdom of the 800 participants are shared in artist's books, on the gallery walls and in videos embedded in a signature sculptural table. By simultaneously evoking our curiosity and compassion, Abeles builds the common ground to educate and inspire action.

The opening reception date of March 5th runs concurrent with the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day, an event that has long stood for ending violence on a global scale. A multi-generational conversation, moderated by Project Chair Sandra Mueller with Kim Abeles, Heeseon Choi, Suzanne Isken, Suzanne Lacy, Cathy Salser, Nathalie Sanchez and Barbara T. Smith, will take place on Saturday, March 26, 2011 in the theatre of the Korean Cultural Center.

Official Website: http://www.awbw.org