Peacepainting Exhibition in Rouen Cathedral, France

The leadership in the cathedral in Rouen wished for a Peacepainting exhibition in connection with the celebration of Olaf’s baptism in 1014. Olaf the Holy was indeed baptised here 1000 years ago. The event and the training he received in France now strongly influence Norway. In the middle of October there were church services, concerts, talks and other markings of the anniversary in Rouen, with many Norwegian participants. Catrine Gangstø and Randi Størseth were there to arrange the exhibition and document the associated work.

At this marking, with this exhibition Peacepainting participates in promoting the idea of peace, and it focuses at the same time on the wish for peaceful coexistence across cultures in today’s picture of the world.

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The exhibition shall hang in the cathedral the rest of the year and will create activities around the theme. Photographer Randi Størseth from Trondheim is making a presentation film.

Exhibition in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Department for the United Nations, Peace and Humanitarian Affairs.

Pictures painted by children in Tunisia and Norway were changed out with pictures painted by children from the Skolt Sami project carried out in Norway – Finland – Russia and a picture from the project in North Korea.

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The Ministry of Defence – June 2012

We exchanged the paintings in the frames. Children and youth from Norway, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Germany and Mexico now have an exhibition in the Leadership Building for the rest of the year. General Rajiv from India is trying to get the exhibition to his homeland.

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The Office of the Prime Minister – February 2012

The Office wished for a painting from our concept “Children and youth paint for peace and friendship between people and nations”. Even Brevik, 12 years old, went to Oslo and handed over the painting himself. He was one of 17 participants from Bindal municipality on the “Peacepainting tour” in Tunisia in 2011, and he had painted the picture there.His text for the painting: “ONE STAR can look like a gleam of light, but is really a whole solar system. A number of solar systems become a galaxy, and a number of galaxies become a universe. That means that something that is small can become something big.”

Jens Stoltenberg and Even Brevik

Jens Stoltenberg and Even Brevik

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 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"

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