Parts of the exhibition at Trondheim Kunstmuseum were moved and exhibited in the Ministry of Defence in November 2009. Children who participated in various workshops in North Norway also had pictures. The exhibition was opened by the Minister of Defence at the time, Grete Faremo. Leaders from different religious communities and one of the children gave speeches. Geirr Lystrup sang with a children’s choir.
The St Olav Festival, “The Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities”, Trondheim Kunstmuseum and Peacepainting – July 2009
We carried out workshops with children from different religious communities during the St Olav Festival in Trondheim in 2009 and 2010. Children painted after inspiration from the book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. This was followed by exhibitions at the Trondheim Kunstmuseum. Håkon Bleken participated with a work.
Exhibition at the Nansen School
I have had the pleasure of following Catrine Gangstøs art project ‘Peacepainting’ he last three years, where children from different religious backgrounds come together and unfold with color and drawings. Through a wordless language the children express feelings and thoughts that can not be expressed otherwise. We find that coping occurs, and that hate turns to hope. I am deeply moved and impressed by the work Catrine Gangstø does, which has also gained national attention. It is original, it's professional and educational well-founded - and that means a lot for the kids who are lucky enough to participate. Perhaps her work also makes the world a better place to live. I sincerely hope that Catrine Gangstø can continue her work - for the good of us all.
Inge Eidsvåg, Lillehammer, Norway 13 January 2011
Exhibition at NAV – February 2009
Between 2007 and 2010 we had exhibitions at public places in Bindal. Here an exhibition is being got ready at NAV.
Exhibition in Vassås Church – June 2009
Geirr Lystrup had a singing time with all 7 year olds in Bindal municipality at Bindalseidet School. They performed at the exhibition’s opening. "Dear Catrine, here are some lines about pictures and hope:
On two occasions I have been as lucky as to experience children’s paintings in a meeting with an audience. The first time was in Vassås Church in Bindal, where the walls around the whole church were covered by exciting subjects properly framed and with thought-provoking titles. To experience children’s thoughts in the present time expressed through pictures was both thought-provoking and hopeful. Themes such as friendship, fear, war and peace were prominent. Especially exciting was to see that the themes are universal and exist similarly strongly within different ethnic and religious groups.
The second time I got to experience the pictures was at the exhibition in the Ministry of Defence in Oslo. On both occasions I had the pleasure of singing together with a children’s choir. To experience children making themselves heard with their own feelings through song and pictures makes a strong impression, especially thought-provoking within intitutions such as the Church and the Ministry of Defence. I hope that this children’s project will reach long and reach a new audience, also with cooperation between children from different nations.
Geirr Lystrup"
Workshops in Bindal 2007-2012
The idea goes back to 1993. Various try outs ended up in a permanent educational arrangement which was used actively across cultures. The Church of Norway was the first to invest funds.