Hi Jerry,
Thanks for your note and the website info. And thank you so very much for the great experience you provided for our kids last week. They truly enjoyed exploring the art pieces under your direction and the umbrella painting was a special treat. I took a few pictures at our center (after the paint dried!) so I'll attach some for you as well.
I hope to return again with a new group at our event next year. Also, I'm spreading the word about your lovely facility as well. Best wishes to you and Deb for hosting this program for our students.
Susan M. Dalton, M.S.Ed., CVRT, Transition Specialist
TransVision - A Transition Program for Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired
19323 E. Grant Highway
P. O. Box 676
Marengo, IL 60152-0676
Phone: 815-923-7545 Fax: 815-923-7547
Website: www.transvis.org
Deb, Jerry and Matt,
Thank you so much for coming out to Blue Cap yesterday. Everyone had a wonderful time. There were several individuals in the kids program that just brightened up while painting. It was exciting to see how they embraced this concept and really enjoyed themselves. Especially the individuals that normally don’t want to participate in things- they ‘came alive’ yesterday! We will have about 30 individuals plus staff attend the parade on the 3rd.
Thanks again,
Scott Redding
Blue Cape
(April 2011)
(extract from a letter to Friedman Place volunteers / April 2011)
How can I possibly express the feelings I had and still have after yesterday's experience? It was a beautiful, very emotional (for me), day, and as I write to you, I tear up remembering the warm greeting we all received from Matt, Jerry, his daughter Brooke, and wife Debbie. How do I express my feelings as I witnessed the transformation of the insecurity of the residents when the idea of painting umbrellas was proposed, turn into pride and satisfaction as they completed their individual umbrellas?
They listened intently as Matt spoke the following words of encouragement as he focused strictly on them:
He made them feel secure about the painting they would create on the umbrella by letting them know that "it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about your art, it is yours and you are all individuals and very special"
You , the staff and volunteers are very special .........with much appreciation, as I could never have "pulled off" such a successful event without you.
Imagine..... this was a first. We were selected to come the the Dali-Lamb Museum before the official opening that will take place May 3rd. The residents' umbrellas will be on loan to the museum for all visitors to view.
All I can say is "WHAT A DAY IT HAS BEEN"
Roz
Events and Volunteer Coordinator-Friedman Place
5527 N. Maplewood
Chicago, Illinois 60625
847-475-4667
A Community for Adults with Vision Loss
Great Lamb,
My intention was to spend few minutes and move on but i ended up with almost two hours.
Your works arrested me and i was transformed,a kind of filling one would have in deep meditation,the works are very universal and poetic.Original art comes from within where there is no paspective and limitations.
When i got to other section where i met your daughter who was so generous with both her warm reception and free book of your biography,then i realise how genuie you are with your artistic expression.
I study art and i know how i struggled to free myself from convetional do and dont in art.What we use many years to achieve is what you lavished on your canvas without effort,congratulation sir.
You started painting at 51 after a succesful bussiness life,it shows that money can not buy happiness except when we do what we love doing.
Your peace project is timely and commendable.You have been to almost all the continent without Africa,this i know could not be delibrate.Africa need this project at this time because of constant conflict which has sent many to the grave.I am from Nigeria in Africa,many innocent children and adult are slaughtered yearly on mere religion and political difference.
Sir i will want you to consider taking this peace project to Africa and i am ready to work with you on it.I thought art in high school before i came down to USA last december.I can mobilise young ones to express themself artistically on umbrellas in my country and other countries.
Your responce will be appreciated
Sincerely yours
Mukaila Ayoade
Nigeria
En Octobre 2007 le projet Parapluies pour la Paix s’est déroulé à Berlin. Plus de 3000 jeunes (enfants et adolescents) s’étaient rassemblés dans le centre de Berlin, défilant devant la Porte de Brandebourg et le Palais du Reichstag, pour montrer leur intérêt et leur engagement aux idées de paix de Matt Lamb. Un lâcher de plusieurs milliers de ballons a été réalisé devant le Reichstag pour transmettre les messages des enfants.
Quelques messages d’enfants sur la paix:
- I wish all the people and animals are fine and nature is treated well, please. Kim
- No violence in schools, less enemies, more friends. Janine
- Peace all over the world. No war anymore. And no thiefs. Nora
- Peace – People have to feel good. Please, help! It will bring happiness. Yvonne
- Many presents, no war, nice holidays, peace, sun. Annalena
- I wish that mum is nice. Pascal
- There mustn’t be war anymore. No unemployed people. Ciran
Silvia Schmidt, MdB Behindertenbeauftragte der SPD-Bundestagsfraktion Deutscher Bundestag
We have been working for three years, to the date, we have an educative program to 1700 schools approved and orchestrated through Municipality of Santa Rosa , the State Government of Mendoza, Foundation Fantelli Family and having like authority of development and application to the Mendoza State Direction of Schools.
The Foundation Fantelli Family has gi ven the bases to incorporate similar programs in Santa Rosa of the Conlara – State of San Luis – Argentina and the Community of Cantabria, Spain.
Fantelli Family Foundation, Mendoza, Argentina
I haven’t words to describe the communication and gives of these children and adults for Matt and of Matt to them, only the image caught in photos, can help us to determine what meant for them the different meetings that we shared.
School of Children with Differenties Capacities, Mendoza, Argentina
This is an organism created by the specific authorities and of the Government of Mendoza whose object is to attend in all the possible forms the citizen deprived of his freedom during and after his liberation, in special attending their families and specially their children. - Action developed by the Direction, the Foundation Fantelli Family and through the Foundation Lamb Umbrellas for Peace, understanding the difficult thing that it is to make specific it if they lack social support. - Approximately 12000 people are attend in the program.
State Direction of Probation Assistance, Mendoza, Argentina
After visit of Matt Lamb and the staff of the school, in the afternoon, according to the commentary of a mother, in the conflictive neighborhood San Martin where they live, the special team of the police of Mendoza makes a monitoring, they entered the house of this mother in a violent form and with arms, only were her three small and other friends, many of them scared and cryi ng, then smallest of the children told of the rest: You are not scared, we are going to call Matt with Mommy, so that he will speaks with the police so they will be better persons.
Foundation Fantelli, referring to the Teachers of the Rio Mendoza School , City of Mendoza , Argentina
They told us that in their years of teaching, when they call to parents meeting, went a minimum amount of them, after of a month making the activities of Project the Lamb Umbrellas for Peace Project , all the parents went at the meetings!
Analyzing the reasons, the conclusion is that the children are the triggers and transmitters of the agenda, feel recognized and a part from the program , installing it in the family and their surro undings, taking it as he leaves from them and not as an imposition, as is always.
Foundation Fantelli, referring to the Teachers of the Segura Peralta School , Maipú, Mendoza , Argentina
For me, the most important memory of Matt Lamb is the Umbrellas for Peace Project here in St. Helena. It was incredible to work all of those days in the local schools with kids in different grades, helping them paint their umbrellas. But, when Matt led these children down the street, proudly carrying those umbrellas, it was truly magic. He was (and is) the Pied Piper of Peace!
I will never forget this experience and neither will those children.
Sharon Dellamonica
"The Umbrellas for Peace program is a wonderful positive opportunity to help empower our kids to spread the important messages of peace and lovethroughout our communities," explained Michael Kiss, Union League Boys and Girls Club president, Chicago, Illinois - 2008
"I enjoyed today’s art. I should think that world is getting along very nicely!!! More more I think that I want doing art!!!" Japan, 2007
"I want to be umbrellas. Umbrellas protect all over the world! I hope that everyone take up the same umbrella. World peace is coming soon!" Japan, 2007
"I wish everyone feel peace all over the world. I think: “No peace, no fashionable”, because poor people can’t choise clothes, so I hope everyone would be able to care about clothes, it might be called peace. I want everyone to act for peace, and think about the world problems" Japan, 2007
"There are many conflicts and wars today world, but today’s art workshop help us from murder world, I think. Such global action is indispensable for us. Keeping peace is difficult but it is important to act anything! It’s a good experience today and I have spent a wonderful time." Japan, 2007
"I connect peace with sunshine. So, I’ve drawn. The umbrella expresses my ideas. Love, friendship, dream… they’re one of peaces too. I wanna have them, everytime. I wrote “I hope you’re happy” on the umbrella. Happy is one of peaces. – I’ve never been this happy! Thanks!!" Japan, 2007
"When I painted the umbrella, I thought what peace is. But it’s difficult to express. I think peace is related with many things. So we can do anything for the peace. I hope that everyone thin of the peace." Japan, 2007
" I had a very good time by painting on an umbrella for peace, and I thought what peace stands for. I hope that people in the world can think about peace and the world will be peaceful in the future!!" Japan, 2007
"A laugh can make peace, I think. The more we laugh, the more the world has peace." Japan, 2007
"I don’t know “war” in detail, but this make us sad. I wish no war in the world. This umbrella is all my hope. Thank you very much." Japan, 2007
"Thanks for this good opportunity. Peace is very important. Today I thought about what I can do. The answer is to pray peace in the world. And shake hands with people each other countries. The most important thing is that we should love each other countries. I think it’s very very important thing. Someday I hope we shake hands!!" Japan, 2007
