Clay bones project to lay bare
the global issue of genocide
By Lisa Carter
VIEW STAFF WRITER
Posted: Sep. 11, 2012 | 12:18 a.m.
Genocide in various countries has resulted in millions of deaths during
the last few decades. These events, however, are not often covered in
the mainstream media, and a few people downtown are looking to change
that.
Marc Rosenthal, Peter Jakubowski and Thom Bumblauskas of
Clay Arts Vegas, 1511 S. Main St ., have become involved with the One
Million Bones Project, a national initiative designed to bring awareness
to genocide in Afghanistan, Burma, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan.
Organizations throughout the
world are joining together in creating 1 million bones out of clay, set
to be put on display in spring 2013 at the National Mall in Washington,
D.C. The Bezos Family Foundation plans to donate $1 for each bone
created - up to $500,000 - to CARE, a nonprofit group dedicated to
fighting global poverty.
Misty Ahmic, Nevada's coordinator for
the One Million Bones Project, said she aims to have community members
construct at least 7,000 bones.
"With this project, every bone
has a voice," Ahmic said. "The symbolism of the bone shows that we're
all part of each other. Our target goal is (to make) 7,000 bones but I
want to blow that away."
Ideally, Ahmic anticipates bringing
12,000 to 15,000 clay bones to Washington, D.C., next year with the help
of Clay Arts Vegas. The downtown art studio plans to host bone-making
days from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10, 1 to 9 p.m. Oct. 24 and 6 to 9 p.m. Oct.
28. Participants are encouraged to drop in at any of those times and
create bones for $10 per person, which covers the class, materials, clay
firing and a donation to CARE.
Bumblauskas said the One Million Bones Project showcases educational and community aspects.
"The important thing with this project is that it's not religiously
affiliated and not politically affiliated. It's getting together for a
cause," Bumbauskas said. "It's also part of the education process. It
teaches anthropology, human art and art affected by bones."
Bumblauskas said participants ages 8 to 65, from his mother to a local
Girl Scout troop and schools, have made bones or signed on to construct
them.
Having involvement from people of all ages, Jakubowski
said, expresses the type of impact One Million Bones aims to have on the
community.
"Sometimes we think of art as a decorative object
and not really something that makes a social impact or social change,"
Jakubowski said. "If you walk out and see 12,000 bones ... that image
burns in your mind. That's the impact arts can make."
Jakubowski said the impact reaches the local level as well. He believes
the project will unite valley residents in a unique way.
"A lot
of people ask, 'Why would I give money to support people somewhere
else?' " Jakubowski said. "A project like this ... it is giving at home.
It's (showing) how Las Vegas is more than just the Strip and casinos.
You see this compassionate community of people coming together to do
something for Las Vegas."
Other Clay Arts Vegas partners, such
as the Laguna Clay Company based in California, have taken part in the
project. The company plans to donate 500 pounds of clay to the studio
from which Jakubowski estimates 2,000 bones can be constructed.
The studio's current students and children throughout the Clark County
School District also plan to participate in the One Million Bones
Project.
Rosenthal said the project's ultimate goal is to
create awareness of an international issue in which valley residents can
make difference.
"This issue isn't just national. It's
international, and there's a cultural exchange from here to (other
countries)," Rosenthal said. "Here's an opportunity for someone to have
an impact on something thousands of miles away from them."
For
more information on the One Million Bones Project, visit
onemillionbones.org. For details on Clay Arts Vegas' bone-making days,
call 375-4147 or visit clayartsvegas.com.
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