Sentinel elevations

The Sentinels of Peace at UNESCO Paris, 9 November 2016. This event was organised by the International Association of Art (IAA/AIAP), at UNESCO Paris headquarters. This echoed the NGO Forum held in Querétaro on 3 and 4 November 2016.

It was proposed to the Unesco Children’s Club to build « Sentinels of Peace », stone statues that were exhibited for a week. The children had brought stones from their country. This pose took place with music thanks to Camille Artichaut, and was accompanied by a dance show, as well as a choice of drawings from the exhibition « Children of the World Draw for Peace ».

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the ESAT* of Lahage (31). Following an initial Sentinel operation with ESAT residents, we were asked by the management of the establishment to set up a new operation for their 60th anniversary.

On this occasion, the participation of residents, families, visitors and elected officials is to be commended. The educators were pleasantly surprised by the significant involvement of the establishment’s residents.

*Facility for disabled workers

The Sentinels of Peace in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, November 2017. The operation took place at the Collège Scientifique et bilingue de filles Bélemtiisé (CSBB) with 200 people, students and adults present. Extraordinary welcome by Founder Joseph Madiba and his teaching team as well as by the pupils and their brass band. An unforgettable moment of emotion also shared with Patricia Badolo and her friends. The day began with a video-conference-debate « Art and the Sentinels of Peace, a universal mediation for peace », led by Alain Mila, president of the association. Before the video projection, students staged their work on the theme of peace; it was magnificent and very moving. The debate was followed by the erection of stone columns: the « Sentinels of Peace ». The artists present were asked to lead different groups of pupils and adults present. They were great and many « Sentinels » were erected within the College grounds. These artists are in a position to represent « Sentinels of Peace » in Burkina Faso.

With the association REEL, at the « Ancien Collège » in Montauban (82-Occitania). 350 children from the air centres of the great Montauban wrote messages of peace for a balloon release on the occasion of their visit to the exhibition « Children of the world draw for peace ». Children from 16 countries drew under the artistic direction of Asilva Rogue and the aegis of Unesco. The « Sentinels of Peace » were present with the « mini gardens ».

March for Peace in Mulhouse, June 2015, organised by Alain Million President of « La Vie en Marche ». The association « Sentinelles de la paix » was present at the first Peace March in Mulhouse, a day organised by the humanitarian association « La Vie en Marche » and sponsored by the singer Isabelle Aubret and Louis Schittly, co-founder of Médecins sans Frontières, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. A Senegalese delegation also took part in this operation.

On this occasion, an elevation of Sentinels by the participants in the march was carried out on a square in the city.

Balloon release at Vazérac (82). Organised by the media library with the support of the community of communes of « Lafrançaise », a balloon release with a message of peace, and, in the media library, Artists for Peace, mini Sentinel gardens, choice of books for peace. And of course, the raising of sentinels in front of the media library.

The « Sentinels of Peace » have been invited to speak at the secondary school Clément Marot in Cahors (46).

Two classes (60 students) and their French teacher, Dalila Djebbar, whose work prior to this intervention was particularly remarkable, followed with almost solemn attention the presentation of the slide show on the genesis of the « Sentinels of Peace ».  A debate followed, rich in very interesting questions, and then all together we went out to build some « Sentinels », a stone is not thrown. Before this symbolic gesture, the following words were taken: A text written by the students and a poem.

The  Sentinels of Peace  near the « Valentré Bridge » in Cahors (46-Occitania)

Creation of ephemeral works at Nilvange Castle, June 2017. On the occasion of the creation of a Land Art space by Alain Mila, an operation organised by the Nilvange media library, the creation of a sentinel garden by the town’s primary and secondary school pupils was added.

Then it was the steel workers who came to add their stone to the operation.

And also ….

  • 3 December 2016 – The Telethon* in Montauban, 15 April 2017
  • The « World Art Day », in Lauzerte (82).
  • Artistic performances at the Espace Bourdelle and the Jardin des Plantes in Montauban.
  • Art in the gardens in Cazals (82),

*The aim of the Telethon is to collect donations for research into genetic diseases.