The Broad Stage hosts Petra Eiko's the-green-heart-project @ its free community festival

Petra Eiko’s the-green-heart-project was hosted by The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center in Santa Monica at its free community festival.  “The-green-heart-project is bringing together the Santa Monica community” says Dale Franzen, Director of the Broad Stage.  People from as far away as Brazil and Germany shared their hearts’ expressions in a blissful display of love and appreciation for the good things in life that people carry in their hearts.  They use markers, pens, and a piece of paper provided on a clipboard and share whatever is in their hearts.  Eiko, an internationally renowned artist and author, has brought the-green-heart-project to many high profile venues in Southern California including luxury shopping center The Malibu Lumber Yard, Malibu, The Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica, ZeroMinusPlus at Fred Segal in Santa Monica, The McGroarty Art Center in Tujunga, California, many high schools in Los Angeles.

    The-green-heart is a large-scale community driven art project that has attracted thousands of participants.  Community members are invited to express their hearts anonymously on paper and post their creations on Elko’s art installation.  The exhibition has also been scaled down to a travel-sized version and has run in ten Los Angeles high schools over the span of two years.  An exhibition of the student’s work with the-green-heart is scheduled to be on display in October 2012 at the Los Angeles City Hall Bridge Gallery.

    The purpose of the-green-heart project is to inspire and share positive ideas, thoughts and widen the human circle through public art.  It was conceived as a platform to increase peace, one step at a time.  It encourages understanding, hope and harmony between individuals and nations.

    The installation: “What is in your heart?–The world is listening” came to fruition after a trip Elko took to Dubai.  She met a woman who asked what the “Western” definition of Love was.  In order to better answer her question, Elko recognized that love begins in the heart and cannot be defined without understanding the heart itself.  She transformed a single question “What is in your heart?” into an interactive public art project that unites people from all walks of life and brings communities together.  Their participation confirms that we are not alone with our thoughts, dreams, and challenges.  The-green-heart project generates a feeling of connectedness that is extremely precious throughout the world today.

    By truly expressing our hearts on Elko’s art wall, these messages become part of the actual art piece, generating more understanding.

    All these unique expressions are beautifully shown in special albums on www.the-green-heart.com and www.facebook.com/what.is.in.your.heart. Selections will be placed in future installations for the world to see.  

    The Broad Stage is celebrating its fifth year in Santa Monica with Broad Fest—a free festival sharing artistry around the community.  In addition to Elko’s “What is in your heart? – The world is listening” installation, the September event featured music, dance, food, art and ocean breezes.

    The Broad Stage is located at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center: 1310 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401 • (310) 434-3200 • info@thebroadstage.com.

    More info: www.the-green-heart.com • www.facebook.com/what.is.in.your.heart • www.facebook.com/broadstage • Youtube Channel: PetraEiko100