Beyond the Wall: Freedom, Art & Reflection

Beyond the Wall: Freedom, Art & Reflection

The Outdoor Arts Foundation has partnered with art consultant Jan Stein, Artist Theo Wujcik and art Historian Anthony F. Janson to organize and execute “Beyond the Wall: Freedom, Art & Reflection.” This historic project will feature twenty five authentic sections of the Berlin Wall (phase III construction) that will be painted by twenty five of the most influential artists and intellectuals of our time.

The Foundation has been fortunate enough to acquire blank sections from the East-German side of Checkpoint Charlie. As such, these sections have never before been painted and are in fact, the last remaining sections of phase II of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany.

Beginning in 2008, artists from around the world will begin painting their sections. The tour is currently scheduled to open in Miami in December of 2011. The project will culminate on November 9th, 2014, the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall.

The mission of the project is to provoke the millions of people that will experience this unique exhibit to think about and reflect upon the principals of freedom, cultural diversity and the inherent worth of human life. Each participating artist will also be asked to reflect upon this mission when creating their pieces.

Using the Berlin Wall as an artistic medium will punctuate the artists’ compositions and help put the significance of past historical events such as the fall of the Wall, the end of Apartheid, the Camp David Accords and fall of the Iron Curtain into perspective.

In addition to the painted sections of the wall, the tour will also be accompanied by a secondary exhibit, outlining a concise history of the Berlin Wall, a commemorative catalog, a PBS documentary, guest speakers and celebrity appearances and opportunities for local schools and to take guided tours of the exhibit.

Sponsorships and corporate branding opportunities for this project are still available. For more information, please contact Jay Goulde at (727) 723-8620

Committed participants include the following:
Richard Anuszkiewicz (U.S.)
Audrey Flack (U.S.)
Drew Gardner & Brenton Hamilton (U.K./U.S.)
Sam Gilliam (U.S.)
Esther Mahlangu (South Africa)
Dorothy Napangardi (Australia)
Robert Stackhouse & Carol Mickett (U.S.)
Lou Stoval (U.S.)
Michael Vollbracht (U.S.)
Mindy Weisel (Germany/U.S.)
Theo Wujcik (U.S.)