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In
less than two years, Colombia will celebrate its 200 birthday as a free nation
with its own identity. On July 20, 1810, New Granada, as Colombia was known
then, started the process of breaking its ties with the Spanish Crown.
It took nine years of fierce fighting to sever the connection with Spain as the
people of Colombia took control of their own destiny.
Today, more than ever before, we have the challenge to affirm our national
identity, which is shown through the symbols that represent the country that we
so love. Although our history has been marred by two hundred years of division,
civil wars, and violent social conflicts, we can overcome these by exercising
tolerance, and educating our people in the persuasion that peace is the only way
to solve the problems that face our country.
Our obligation as Colombians in the XXI century is to abolish the senseless
polarization that has caused so much pain and loss to the families in our
country. Our mission during this crucial time in our history is to utilize
civilized methods to banish divisions and animosities, and to encourage the
discussion of ideals within a context where respect is ever present. One of the
ways to integrate our fellow citizens is through Art.
Art can work wonders as it allows people to participate in a common cause. This
is how I conceived my project called Our Flag, Our Country, Our Home.
This work aims to find unity and to break down the barriers, so that all
Colombians may feel pride in our country as we can solve our differences in a
peaceful way. Country should be above political parties, as Simón Bolívar
clearly expressed before his death at Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Santa
Marta on December 17, 1830.
In this process, we would like to include those Colombians who make their home
in the USA through their work, the homesickness they feel when they think about
their homeland, and the financial support the send their families which
contributes significantly to Colombia´s economy.
The first phase of the project will include the creation of Colombia´s flag
using the hands of Colombians who reside in three key points in the USA:
Florida, North Carolina, and New York.
For the second phase, we will travel to these three cities in Europe: Brussels,
Paris, and Madrid.
During the third phase, we will use the hands of many individuals that belong to
the program `Paz y Reconciliación´ (Peace and Reconciliation),which includes
former members of the guerrilla and armed militia groups. The flag, a mural
measuring 6 to 8 feet in width by 25 feet in length, will be painted on canvas.
Along with the mural, we will develop the following supporting projects:
- A documentary that will depict the developing process of the mural, with a
strong emphasis on the stories of those who participate in creating the flag.
- A web page that will be updated as the project develops.
- A book with the history and the photos taken during the process.
I was successful in creating a similar project last year in Charlotte, North
Carolina. Over 2,500 participated in the mural, including students, blue-collar
workers, professionals, and community leaders. This artistic endeavor was called
´Home Sweet Home´, and it aimed at promoting tolerance, and at affirming that
the United States is a country that was and is being built by the hands of
immigrants.
Five different schools belonging to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School district
participated in the project, along with the local chapter of the Arts and
Science Council, the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, the
McColl Center, one of the most prestigious organizations in the city, and the
Latin American Coalition, the main Hispanic organization in the
Charlotte-Metropolitan area.
This project was one successful experience in Charlotte, a city with a
population of more than 1,200,000 people, and its success could be duplicated at
a national and international level with ´Our Flag, Our Country, Our Home´. As
someone born in Antioquia, and with the proposal of a work in which handprints
are of paramount importance, I would like to quote the words of our dear Gonzalo
Arango, which I think are very appropriate: “ A hand plus another hand does not
just equal two hands, but two hands united. Come and unite your hands to our
hands so that Colombia might not be in the hands of a few, but in every hand.”
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