31 MAY, SALIPAZARI DOCKS, ISTANBUL — Earth Celebrations 2000: Urban Courage, an international non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Mexico, has brought twenty members of the “Earth Crew” to the Istanbul City Summit to produce a graffiti mural for the Best Practices Exhibition at the Sali Pazari Docks.
Earth Crew is a remarkable group of young urban artists from different economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Their mission: to spread the message of non-violence through the medium of large, colourful murals. They have united through art to focus attention on and offer alternatives to contemporary issues such as gang violence, drug abuse, child abuse and environmental consciousness. Most of them come from the inner cities of Mexico and the United States and all bear the emotional and physical scars of their urban environment. Having experienced the worst society has to offer, they have dedicated their lives to creating a better world.
The Habitat II City Summit is Earth Crew’s second appearance on the United Nations stage. Four years ago at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, they enlisted 8 Brazilian street kids to work with them for 36 hours to complete the backdrop for the event’s closing concert. That work now resides in the Rio de Janeiro Modern Art Museum. The Earth Crew has also painted murals, canvases and clothing for the human rights group, Amnesty International, a Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ) Magazine fashion show, and were recently specially commissioned by the Mexican attorney general to paint a mural in Mexico City.
Work commences today and the mural is expected to be finished by Tuesday, 2 June 1996.
For More Information, Contact:
Helen Samuels,
International Director,
EC2000 “Urban Courage”
Tel: (212) 293-2469/ 293-3702