Activities around The Peace Gate kick off Silicon Valley Sculpture 2021
On Friday, September 24, an event involving The Peace Gate, on display on the grounds of Menlo College in Atherton (1000 El Camino Real), kicks off Silicon Valley Sculpture 2021. The Peace Gate, created by artist Lisa Solomon and artisan Jim Gilardi, is one of more than 30 outdoor sculptures on display through September 26.
“Your attendance gives you a free pass to stroll through the grounds to view the rest of the sculptures for the remainder of the day on the 24th,” says Judy Adams, of WILPF Peninsula, the events’ organizer.
“The idea came out of a successful art installation at Menlo Park’s Art Ventures gallery commemorating the 75th anniversary in August 2020 of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In a little more than a month, the project collected and displayed more than 2000 peace cranes.”
The next step was for gallery owner Katharina Bernau, also the founder of Menlo Park Public Art (MPPA), to seek a peace-themed entry for Silicon Valley Sculpture 2021, a fundraiser for MPPA.
Solomon responded to the challenge merging two Japanese traditions, the Torii gates outside Shinto and Buddhist temples and sacred sites, with origami peace cranes, a symbol of hope.
“The cranes will be installed by the artist Friday morning, starting at 10:00 am,” says Katharina. “The community can help.”
The dancer and peace activist Sharat Lin will be performing part of the “Dance of Peace” at the sculpture between 10:45 and 11:00 am and again at 11:45 am.
All sculptures are available for purchase. Complete information about Silicon Valley Sculpture 2021 is available online.
Rebecca Gilardi September 25, 2021 at 3:29 pm
The Tori Gate was built by Jim Gilardi
Judy Adams September 25, 2021 at 11:53 pm
Yes, and he is credited both in the InMenlo article above on the 23rd, as well as in our advance publicity, below. It is a beautiful, sturdy redwood Gate – and of course, an essential part of the piece, supporting the 1000 origami cranes. Our event flyer, which was widely circulated, honored his contribution. Our regret is that we didn’t meet Jim on the 24th – he is truly an artisan, as we described his work! :
“Welcome/Dedicate the installation of the Torii “Peace Gate” by artist Lisa Solomon”
“Lisa Solomon’s sculpture combines a redwood Torii gate (she selected her favorite traditional design for the Japanese gates at the entrance to Shinto or Buddhist temples or sacred places), constructed for her by artisan Jim Gilardi, which displays her arrangement of strands of colorful paper peace cranes – dipped in rubber to protect them from moisture for the outdoors installation.”
-Judy Adams, one of the event organizers.