Courage Ablaze at MSU!

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Resiliant - part of the Courage Ablaze watercolor painting seriesCourage Ablaze is a museum quality traveling exhibit that has been experienced by over 70,000 people. The work serves as a megaphone—speaking with tender boldness.

Courage Ablaze pillars, icons of strength, invite movement and involvement. As viewers encircle the 7-foot pillars, they engage with the image on the front and the story printed on the back. The charred frames on the Flame Tree portray suffering while the vivid colors of the Congolese images highlight beauty and hope.

Additional elements such as five child rape textiles, a ten-foot oil painting, and twenty-five watercolor portrait paintings draw viewers into the heart of the Congolese women—leaving an unforgettable impact.

Courage Ablaze: The Women and Children of Congo

Michigan State University
LookOut! Gallery
MSU Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
November 2 through November 19, 2015

Courage Ablaze & The Hidden War of Congo is a 90 minute presentation designed to raise awareness of the war on innocent civilians in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly on the women. Kizombo Kalumbula, a naturalized Congolese professor and director of International Berean Ministry, presents the reasons for the conflict and the complex history of the region.

Pamela Alderman, a renowned watercolor artist, shares the tragic stories of Congolese refugees that she’s recorded in word and portraits, and demonstrates our connection to the troubles. “Le Clay” a Congolese refugee family choir, humanizes the statistics by singing Congolese songs in French, Lingala, and Swahili.

A question and answer period follows. Pamela’s artwork acts as the backdrop for the presentation and may remain in the facility for student viewing. Participants leave with knowledge of the almost unreported, but largest, war since WWII, and a variety of “things they can do” to make a difference.

Presentation and Opening Reception
Tuesday, November 10 at 5:00 p.m.
MSU Residential College in the Arts and Humanities • RCAH Theater
362 Bogue Street, East Lansing, Michigan
Free admission and open to the public

Taking Action Against Modern Day Slavery

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Is human trafficking on the rise in our communities? Don’t miss The Scarlet Cord Film Premiere to learn more about the commercial sex industry in America.

The Scarlet Cord Film Premiere
The Grand Rapids Public Museum
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
6:00 pm – 8:0 pm
Tickets $5.00 at the door

We are all called to take action in unique ways within our own circles of influence to protect children at risk. Some may lead the fight from the front lines through outreach and rescue, but many of us are given a platform in our own communities through the use of our gifts and talents. The Scarlet Cord Film is about joining together in support and finding multiply ways to combat human trafficking.

Here are just a few suggestions:

  1. Crowned Free T-Shirt designTake a moment to visit Women At Risk International. Find out more about their boutiques and their US Training Center expansion project.
  2. Buy a copy of Elise Hilton’s book, A Vulnerable World. Learn more about how Hilton is bringing awareness to the horrible crime of modern day slavery.
  3. Crowned Free sells shirts made by women rescued out of sexual slavery. Pick up a shirt as another way to support the battle against the enslavement of children. Crown Free also helped make the filming of The Scarlet Cord Film possible.

Remembering 9/11 and Our Heroes

Behind the Artwork

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
Joseph Campbell

Close-up of American flag

Today we remember the heroes of 9/11. Men and women who put their lives on the line for others. Firemen who rushed into the burning Twin Towers to save lives. A Catholic priest who was praying for and helping others at Ground Zero. And Todd Beamer and several other courageous passengers who fought hijackers on United Airlines Flight 93. All of these heroes, and more, died on 9/11 while trying to help others.

Today we also want to remember the life of another American hero: Army Spc. Eric Burri, who joined the military after 9/11 to protect our country. Sadly, after two deployments, Eric died while defending our freedom. But Eric’s heroic service is about more than laying down his life for others. Eric’s inspiring story is also about his parents and a community coming together to help the children of Iraq—to continue Eric’s legacy.

Here’s a glimpse into Eric’s story:

“Dad, I’m not afraid to die.”

Eric’s picture rests between two angel figurines. Another tiny photo of Eric with a small American flag hangs from the center of the kitchen curtain rod. His dad remembers when Eric announced with a smile, “Dad, I did it. I joined.” The next day he graduated from high school.

“The military taught Eric a lot,” said his dad. “Eric started understanding that life wasn’t just about him; it was about others too.” While deployed to Iraq, a letter came from a changing Eric who said the Iraqi children didn’t have shoes. Eric wrote, “Mom, if I could, I would give them the shoes off my feet.”

His father continued, “In May of 2005, Eric came home for a short visit and took his sweetheart shopping to look at diamond rings. He only had five more months left to serve in Iraq.” A few weeks later on Tuesday, June 7, a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad and killed Eric.

“To honor Eric’s love for the Iraqi children, we collected thousands of shoes and sent them to Iraq,” said his dad as he wiped away a tear. At twenty-one years old, while living life to the full, Eric gave the ultimate sacrifice: his life.

Eric’s life is being celebrated during ArtPrize Seven at an art installation called Hometown Hero. The work first and foremost honors the life of Army Spc. Eric Burri. But the work also serves another purpose.

Hometown Hero invites ArtPrize visitors to add the name of their own heroes to the 24 x 6-foot painting. This interactive art installation remembers the heroes of 9/11 as well as all the other heroes who have touched our lives.

Learn more about Hometown Hero and watch Eric Burri’s Story…

Many of you would like to help support the Hometown Hero art installation. You can make your donations at YouCaring to support the project. Thank you.

‘The Scarlet Cord’ Video Premiere, 2015

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For Immediate Release

Grand Rapids, MI – September, 2015 – Women At Risk, International will be hosting a movie premiere on Tuesday, September 15, at the Grand Rapids Public Museum from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with ArtPrize artist, Pamela Alderman. The film, based on the exhibit “The Scarlet Cord” will premiere following a panel discussion around modern day human trafficking. Those visiting the GRPM for the film and program may pre register at warinternational.org. Admission is $5.00. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Scene from The Scarlet Cord video

At ArtPrize 2014, Alderman displayed her piece, The Scarlet Cord through a partnership with WAR, Int’l, in hopes of raising awareness of human trafficking in the United States. Through that same partnership, community members will have the opportunity to learn about the face of human trafficking in West Michigan at this program on September 15.

This event will feature a panel that will include Pamela Alderman, WAR, Int’l president, Becky McDonald, author of “A Vulnerable World” and communication specialist at Acton Institute, Elise Hilton, Senator Judy Emmons, and Vanessa, a trafficking survivor. There will be a panel discussion followed by an opportunity for guests to ask questions and interact with the panel. After the panel discussion is completed The Scarlet Cord will be premiered.

This video features the reactions of those who walked through Alderman’s art installation during the 2015 Super Bowl in Phoenix. Through this piece, Alderman met trafficking and sexual abuse survivors who also shared their reactions as they experienced her art. This touching film also features human trafficking statistics and information on the horrors many children in America face.

The event will conclude with volunteers tying the infamous scarlet cords on the wrists of those in attendance as an ever-present reminder of the pain those engulfed in human trafficking experience each and every day.

Please note that this program and film may include content that could be disturbing.

For more information, please contact:

Women At Risk, International
(616) 855-0796
www.warinternational.org

About Women At Risk, International

WAR, Int’l is a non-profit organization that works in over 40 countries addressing 14 risk issues. The purpose of WAR, Int’l is to create circles of protection and hope around at-risk women and children through culturally sensitive, sustainable projects and partnerships. WAR, Int’l has a passion for giving a voice to the silenced cries of the oppressed while wrapping arms of love around them, and empowering them to live with hope and dignity.

About The Scarlet Cord

The Scarlet Cord is an award-winning art exhibit aimed at raising awareness of child sex trafficking. The unique art exhibit is housed in a 40-foot storage container that includes thirty weathered doors with portraits bound by a twisted scarlet cord. Artist Pamela Alderman’s motivation for creating The Scarlet Cord installation and video was to inspire healing for sex-trafficked children. To schedule an exhibit or video showing, contact the artist at www.watercolorbypamela.com.

Sharing Hometown Hero!

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Close-up of Hometown Hero concept artOur world is broken. Because of this, we need heroes. By honoring noble and sacrificial people in our lives, we remember and truly understand their impact on our world. There is healing in focusing on the good in mankind.

My ArtPrize Seven work is called Hometown Hero. It is an exhibit that first and foremost honors Army Spc. Eric Burri. Eric wanted to help others in need. But his wish didn’t come true in the way he, or his family, expected…as revealed in last month’s video post of Eric’s story.

Give a gift in memory of or in support of your hero.

Thank you for continuing this journey with us!

The Scarlet Cord: A Megaphone in Phoenix

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The Scarlet Cord in Phoenix just days before Super Bowl

The Scarlet Cord is an educational tool. Through the installation, people learn that children don’t volunteer to be trafficked; they are forced. It would be wonderful if even ten perpetrators changed their minds and decided not to buy sex after the Super Bowl. It would be even more exciting if 100, or even 1,000, perpetrators decided to go home after the game without purchasing sex with a child. If these people left the Super Bowl, without buying sex, marriages could be healed and individuals could potentially be set free.

As I show my work in Phoenix, many children will be trafficked, or raped, and, as a result, bear deep wounds—perhaps for the rest of their lives.

The Scarlet Cord is a megaphone to broadcast the heinous injustice done to children so people will be informed and no longer ignore the issue.

The Scarlet Cord

813 N. 1st Street • Roosevelt Row Art District
January 23 – February 1, 2015
Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sponsored by StreetLightUSA

To learn more about sex trafficking and how you can help, contact: