Reflections on
One Hundred Bowls of Compassion
"In Buddhist teaching the symbol for compassion is one moon shining while its image is reflected in one hundred bowls of water. The moon does not demand, 'If you open to me, I will do you a favor and shine on you.' The moon just shines." --Chogyham Trungpa Rinpoche
Master potter Cate Bourke's 100 vessel installation, Reflections on One Hundred Bowls of Compassion, opened at the Farmington Valley Art Center's Fisher Gallery in Avon, Connecticut on Saturday, March 19, 2005*, two years to the day from the onset of war in Iraq. The work transcends the normal perception of clay objects as utilitarian. Its combination of geometric, sculptural and linguistic elements demands it be read on many levels.
Ninety-nine pedestaled bowls contrast in black and white a high gloss surface with raw porcelain scripting on broad rims. Each unique bowl has its own story to tell, and the scripting, printed in reverse, cannot be deciphered with the unaided eye, but must be mirrored to be understood.
The 100th bowl is larger than the others. Its rim is inscribed with cranes. It holds oragami peace cranes that visitors to the exhibit fold. Peripheral components include real-time video loop directions to fold the birds, giving visitors a chance to actively contribute to the installation.
Providing an opportunity to reflect upon our shared humanity, the installation commemorates civilians--teachers, taxi drivers, PhDs, grandfathers and mothers, infants and children--dying in Iraq.
To Host an InstallationReflections on One Hundred Bowls of compassion provides a point of entry for dialogue on the intersection of Aesthetics, Politics and Spirituality. To host an exhibition in your faith community or institution, including a panel discussion (with local educators, clergy and artists), an artist's talk and/or an interactive children's hour, contact Cate Bourke at [email protected].
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On Reconciliation
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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is written on the rim of the bowls?
On each bowl is the name, age (if available), place and cause of death of an Iraqi civilian who died during the first days of the war in Iraq. Why 100 bowls? Each bowl both commemorates the life of a single, unique individual as well as represents the multitude of civilian lives that have been lost in the war. When I began this project in 2004 the civilian death toll was estimated at 10,000. Each bowl then would have represented 100 lives. Today those numbers have risen dramatically, so that each bowl now represents 1,000 lives lost. What language is it on the rim of the bowls? The names and places documented on the bowls are Iraqi, but the language is English. It is inscribed on the rims of the bowls in mirror image, so when reflected in mirrors the words can be read by an English reading viewer, although they still may appear “foreign” to those of us unfamiliar with names such as Saif el Baur, Gufran Kassim, or Abu Iyad Zaitun Zaki. Why did you make the 100 bowls? I’m a potter. Making bowls is what I do well. This work, Reflections on One Hundred Bowls of Compassion, is my sustained effort to respond to the tragedy of war in Iraq. It brings together my few but intense passions: clay work, spiritual interconnectedness, and a constructive response to violence. Why didn’t you make 100 bowls for the civilians who died in the 9-11 attack? The outpouring of compassion from citizens of the U.S. and other nations in response to the senseless loss of life in the World Trade Center attack moved me deeply. It was immediate, immense and appropriate. And though it could not make up for the loss of life, it did serve to honor the lives lost. Fortunately the 3000+ dead didn’t need my small voice to call attention to their huge tragedy. The world rushed forth respectfully, and that inspired me, and alerted me to the dire need for compassion in an extremely violent world. Now American soldiers come home wounded or dead from Iraq. The suffering of American families is palpable. When one of the dead is a boy or girl we know and love, the grief stops us in our tracks. Even if we don’t know them personally, we see their faces, their names, ranks, ages, and honor them in respectful silence on the television news. Those of us who were of the Vietnam era remember what happened to our soldiers in Vietnam, and upon their homecoming. Today we support our troops, and mourn those lost. The civilians dying in Iraq, however, are nameless, faceless. We cannot grieve them if we have no knowledge of them. Why do you use mirrors in the exhibit? Using mirrors, inscriptions referring to individuals killed in the war can be read. The mirrors also allow for self reflection. We cannot relate to others unless we can clearly see ourselves. How do you know the names of the civilians? Iraq Body Count, an independent human security project located in Great Britain, was established in 2003 to count the civilian dead. The rather indelicate name of the project refers to the U.S. Central Command position General Tommy Franks described when he stated: “We don’t do body counts.” So many of the bowls have the names and ages of children on them. Did you select children to call even greater attention to the “innocence” of the civilian victims? The bowls list, in chronological order of their deaths, the first 99 fully identified civilians killed, as of December, 2003, since the onset of the war. That there are many children represented may reflect the make-up of the population. Sixty percent of Iraqis are children. What is the significance of the last, larger bowl? The final bowl is inscribed with peace cranes. It is dedicated to the hope for peace for those now living in terrifying conditions as the war continues in Iraq. |
Visitors Speak My wife and daughter and I experienced your exhibit "Reflections on One Hundred Bowls of Compassion" at the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon a few weeks ago.
I saw the bowls first and then read the quote aloud to our 7 year old daughter, who's still learning to read. It was a beautiful experience. And then the curator invited us to watch the video on how to make a paper crane. We each made one, and my wife and I added ours to the bowl. But our daughter decided to take hers home. (It's still on our coffee table. I remembered how to do it and made two more to keep it company.) On the way out, our daughter "pinged" the three bowls nearest the door for about ten seconds. (She's curious about sound and has a bit of a musical ear.) Together we were able to make a gentle sound like a far away wind chime might make. This deepened my appreciation of the display. Only now, reading the postcard we took home, do I notice the Iraq connection, with the bowls' references to the war victims. And perhaps the sounds the bowls made were more like the tolling of bells for the deceased. Peace. --R.Z. As stunning as the Vietnam Wall.--Anonymous
How wonderful that each of the bowls is completely unique and individual just like the people they represent.--P.L. It was so poingnant seeing a bowl representing a 19 month old baby--I had to choke back the tears. No art has ever moved me like this. Thank you for sharing your vision with all of us. --G.C. Maybe Chaucer said it best: "The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne." You've got the master's touch in this show! --J.C. I'm very moved. This is beautiful / awful. Thank you so much.--R.M. Emotional, moving. Will make an imprint in our minds forever! --M.R. Truly a sacred space. Thank you. --D.L. Eye opening work.--G.D.N. ...inspired and moved us. A beautiful, spiritual work. --M.S. and J. R., MD A healing experience, to be in the presence of your project.--E.S. Important and so haunting. --D.O'N. A powerful experience.--J.A. Meaningful and evocative.--T.P. ... a wonderfully, moving tribute. I hope that someone is making sure that the Iraqi people know that someone in this country has done such important work to help us understand this waste of human life in the cause of "freedom." --J.E., Harvard University These 100 Bowls of Compassion are a much stronger statement than Mr. Bush Senior's 1000 points of light. Shock and awe be damned. --J.F. Thank you for helping us be more aware. This is a beautiful, breath-stopping creation. I hope you are able to send it all over the country and to Europe. Try Louisville, KY...--L.H. |
How to Fold a Paper Crane
The "Reflections on One Hundred Bowls of Compassion" installation involves a number of participatory components. Use of the video, "How to Fold a Paper Crane," allows visitors to "transform a square piece of paper into a graceful crane in 26 clearly presented steps." Participants can either take their artwork home or leave it in a bowl inscribed with origami peace cranes. This provides the opportunity to both alter and contribute to the installation.
For more information on "How to Fold a Paper Crane," or for detailed instructions on how to fold an origami peace crane right now, see the Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes website: http://www.sadako.com/index.html, call 1.800.827.0949 or email [email protected].
For more information on "How to Fold a Paper Crane," or for detailed instructions on how to fold an origami peace crane right now, see the Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes website: http://www.sadako.com/index.html, call 1.800.827.0949 or email [email protected].