SMILE TO THE WORLD (Click here to view the presentation panel of the exhibit)

The Smile to the World banner combines 2000 paintings by children from across all the traditional divides in Ireland,
into a giant rainbow that spans 100 feet high and 18 feet in height.

Created following the events of September 11 by Irish artist Brian Cumiskey, the rainbow represents a metaphor for a world where differences enrich rather than divide a population.

Attending the opening event on June 12 were: Mrs. Nane Annan, Mr. Richard Ryan, Permament Representative fo Ireland to the U.N, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the U.N., Lady Greenstock, Brian Cumiskey, creator fo "Smial to the World", Hans E. Hageman, Director, Boys and Girls Club of Harlem.

Irish musicians and an Irish-American girls' dancer group entertained the visitors at a brief reception.

First displayed in Dublin, Ireland, "Smile to the World" has attracted the support of Nobel Peace Prize winners Mr. John Hume and Mr. David Trimble, Irish President Mrs. Mary McAleese, and Catholic, Protestant, Islamic and Jewish leaders in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The drawings printed on the banner were selected from more than 130,000 entries by Irish school children.

This exhibition is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ireland to the U.N.
and the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the U.N.

Photos of the exhibit by Stephanie Hollyman and Brian Cumiskey

For further information, please contact Brian Cumiskey:
email: smile@smiletotheworld.com phone: 1-917-549-4514
or Maura Flynn: in Longoford, Ireland (011) 353-43-23320

THE GIFT OF LIFE (Click here to view the presentation panel of the exhibit)

Collages by students from Boys and Girls Harbor, Genesis and P.A.C.T. Programs, Harlem, New York

This year, students ages 11- 17 from Spanish and Central Harlem have been studying the harsh living conditions in poverty- stricken regions of Angola and India. They have learned of worlds where food, medicine and education are often just dreams. And they responded. They have created the artwork you see here to depict what they imagine life to be like for their peers in those countries. Their goal: to raise money to help them. “ It’s good to think of others instead of just yourself all the time,” said Dawudeen Maynard. Yahira Hernandez added, “We’re raising money to help build a school".

“The Gift of Life" auction was held on April 29, 2003 at the Boys & Girls Harbor "11th Annual Salute to Achievement" luncheon. Through the sale of these works, over $13,000.00 was raised to support two projects.
The first is the Sulaxmi, an elementary school in Lucknow, India, where “low-caste” Hindu and Muslim girls can receive an education. The second is the Concern Worldwide site in Huambo, Angola, where increasing the availability of food is primary, while de-mining the land and combating disease are also major concerns.

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