Coexistence exhibit world tour comes to Minneapolis

Beginning May 1 and continuing until June 12 at the Hennepin County Government Center, the U of M College of Liberal arts is bringing to Minneapolis one of the world’s most unusual, visually powerful, and thought-provoking exhibitions. The Twin Cities are only the fourth and fifth cities in the U.S. to host this extraordinary event, which began in 2001 in Jerusalem and has since toured cities from Sarajevo to Berlin, Belfast to Cape Town, Prague to Miami.

Mounted in outdoor public spaces on giant billboards, COEXISTENCE showcases images by 38 international artists exploring issues of coexistence, peace, and understanding. The images—selected in juried competition and varied in style and theme—are presented alongside provocative reflections on coexistence by poets and sages across the ages (translated into English, French, German, Spanish, Hmong and Somali).

Can we live together in peace in our global and multicultural world? Can we understand and respect one another? Can our similarities bind us across our differences (including race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, and many others)? Or must difference inevitably result in conflict and violence—even genocide? These urgent questions are at the heart of COEXISTENCE—making this exhibition both an astonishing spectator experience and an unparalleled springboard for thought, dialogue, and hope toward a better world.

Many related events are scheduled. See www.chgs.umn.edu/coexistence for further info.