Shmah
by Dorit Bat Shalom
Founded in the ancient Middle Eastern tradition of "soolcha" (Arabic for resolution and forgiveness), which gathers conflicted parties together in a circle to reach a resolution, the Peace Tent is a multi-media art installation that uses non-violent communication methods to teach conflict resolution by theater, dance, and other experienc events.
The Peace Tent project was started in Israel by Israeli artist, peace activist, and psychodrama therapist Dorit Bat Shalom, who has taken five seperate delegations for peace from the US to Israel, including Pueblo Native American spiritual leaders, to give workshops and participate in inter-faith dialogues and ceremonies. Ms. Bat Shalom later brought the Peace Tent to the United States to give Americans the opportunity to relate to the Israeli-Palestinian experience on a deep human level and to develop a language of compassion.
The Peace Tent is constructed from multi-colored hangings of cloth, a decorative Arabic door, and pillows and carpets on the floor. The inside walls are adorned with multi-media art images of Arab, Israeli, Palestinian and Bedouin women and children in the depths of their emotion or behind their veils.
In the United States, the Peace Tent multi-media installation has been exhibited in Albuquerque and Taos, NM, in Boulder and Ft. Collins, CO, and has been in CA this year, in Willits in January, in Berkeley at Chochmat HaLev this past February, and will be in Colorado Springs in May, 2003.
Art and concept by Dorit Bat-Shalom