Painters long for peaceful elections<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
Some 100 painters and artists gathered here on Sunday to express
\nhope for a peaceful general election in 2004 by painting on a
\n100-meter long, seamless white canvas.<\/p>\n
"We urge the political elite to maintain a sense of unity and
\ntogetherness. The winning parties should embrace the losing ones
\nand work together for the betterment of our country," said the
\norganizing committee's chairman, Zaenal Tayeb.<\/p>\n
Organized by the Bali Sidewalk's Artist Community (KSJPB), the
\nevent was held in the spacious front yard of Tayeb's boxing gym
\nin the Kuta area. Several noted figures, including Bali Police
\nchief Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika, celebrated painter Nyoman
\nGunarsa and choreographer Wayan Dibia attended the event.<\/p>\n
"I hope the art community will play a greater role in creating
\na peaceful atmosphere in the run-up to the general election.
\nHopefully, the message these artists voiced today will
\nreverberate across each and every layer of society," Mangku
\nPastika said.<\/p>\n
A light shower and muddy ground, the result of incessant
\ntorrential rain on Saturday night, failed to curb the
\nparticipants' enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
"Great works of art are usually born not under the best of
\ncircumstances but in an adverse environment, such as on this
\nmuddy ground," Gunarsa noted.<\/p>\n
The event also drew hundreds of curious passersby, who were
\nlater treated to free bowls of soto ayam (chicken broth) for
\n1,000 people by the event's organizing committee. A music concert
\nwas also staged.<\/p>\n
"We will later submit this painting to the Indonesian Museum
\nof Records (MURI) as one of the country's longest paintings," a
\ncommittee member, Harry T Putra, said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/painters-long-for-peaceful-elections-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}