To NYC & DC with LOVE

Adrienne Fritze, the originator of a community art movement entitled Empty & Meaningless: the Box Project", and her creative partner Richard Williams are working with communities in Portland OR, and from around the country, to create two community artowrks as gifts of Love and Healing for the cities of New York and Washington DC.

to NYC & DC with LOVE
Empty & Meaningless: the Box Project goes to New York City and Washington, DC

In the wake of the suicide murders by terrorists in New York City and Washington DC, the philosophy of Love and Peace was tested world-wide. With breath held, pacifists and followers of non-violent solutions waited to see if America would go to war in waves of mass destruction, melting the Afghani landscape - destroying innocents along with terrorists.

For one proponent of Love and Non-violence, it was with growing calm and respect that she watched the United States and countries across the globe be patient - our leaders not once succumbing to reactionary measures of an instantaneous and vengeful nature. And although this woman works for a future, a near future, of a world managed with Love and Understanding, she sees the sense in how we proceed to root out terrorism.

And she continues to work for Love. And Peace. And understanding.

Adrienne Fritze is the originator of a community art movement entitled Empty & Meaningless: the Box Project". She and her creative partner Richard Williams are working with communities in Portland and surrounding areas to create two installations as gifts of Love and Healing for the cities of New York and Washington DC.

Adrienne and Richard have combined their artistic flair to create unique, beautiful steel sculptures that house the focus of the works -- extraordinarily designed and decorated paper boxes, created by ordinary, everyday people. These folks have a desire to effect change in the relationships in their lives - with brothers, sisters, parents, friends, ex-spouses, children - and in their families and neighborhoods and schools. Adrienne calls these boxes intents" and it is these intents that give the work their power.

The box represents an expression of what is so in a persons life in relation to another. For some this is an expression of anger, sorrow, frustration, fear, anxiety, wishfulness, hurt, hopelessness or sadness. Part of the box is decorated with images that represent these emotions. Other sides of the box depict the kind of relationship the box creator truly desires to have with that other person - friendship, love, freedom to be fully self-expressed, forgiveness, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, abundance, healing."

Although Adrienne is quick to point out that the work of creating a box is not therapy, the process of just saying whats there for the box creator can be extremely cathartic.

My dear friend Renee had spent the past 10 years in a contentious, bitter, and spiteful relationship with her husband Mikes first wife Robin. Envious and angry thoughts of each other consumed them, especially when it came to the children they were all supposed to share. They rarely spoke to one another, and when they did it was stilted and vitriolic." shares Adrienne.

Mikes daughter was getting married, and all of the families were invited; of course, that meant Robin. Renee was torn. She wanted the wedding to be perfect for Mikes daughter, Christina. After all, Christina was really like Renees little sister; there was only 11 years age difference. But Renee couldnt see a way out of her resentment and anger for Mikes ex-wife, especially when it came to how she treated Christina and her new husband to be. Once again, Renees judgment of Robin ruled her heart...as well as her willingness to forgive and forget."

Adrienne offered Renee a box to depict all the things she felt for Robin, and to include on the box the way she truly wanted it to be with Robin at the wedding and in their lives following the wedding.

I thought about that box the whole time I had it. And I took it with me to Norway where the wedding was being held. I thought about what the intent of Adriennes project was and wondered if I really could go through with it. I hadnt seen her in over 5 years, but we certainly had no love lost during that time," Renee says.

Then, the day of the wedding, it hit me. What was I doing? Why was I holding this grudge? I was determined to let it go, so I walked straight over to Robin and told her that I was thrilled to see her, and asked her to forgive me for being so obstinate and judgmental all these years. I was honest, and open. We both began to cry. She asked me to forgive her, and we hugged and kissed each other, and vowed never to let this out of our minds. That night, we danced together for hours. And even when we got back home after the wedding, we still talk on the phone, and laugh, and have made plans to see each other soon."

We take the boxes created by people like Renee and we group them together with other boxes, other intents, creating communities of powerful expressions of transformation. Then Richard and I create the steel structures that house these communities of intents.

When I look at the sculptures, and all these statements about creating powerful relationships despite the circumstances of those relationships, I am so moved by the courage and willingness of every individual who took the chance to contribute to the project and ultimately to their own lives." explains Adrienne.

Now Adrienne, Richard and their supporters have taken the Box Project to another level; they have seen a way for all people to express whatever emotions are there for them in relation to the fateful events of September 11th.

Were inviting people in our communities to take on creating a box expressing whatever emotion is there for them about the terrorist attacks on the United States - and to couple that expression with the hopes and desires they have for a world ruled with Love, Peace and Joy." says Adrienne.

These boxes will find themselves in either the NYC or the DC sculpture, with each sculpture accompanied by a journal telling the stories of the participants boxes. It is the Teams intent to present them to the cities of New York and Washington DC as expressions of Healing and Love in December.

Participants and interested contributors are asked to donate funds to the project, with a majority of the proceeds going to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, and the remaining donations going to the project for materials and supplies.

You dont have to make a donation to create a box, just know that you may donate if you have the resources to do so." says Adrienne. The most important component of this project is your expressions of transforming the world - from one often ruled by hate and mistrust, to one managed through the conduits of Love and Understanding, all of us residing in Peace."

The NYC/DC Workshops are held every Wednesday at various locations to help the team reach this goal. Call the Box Project at 503-282-6011 for workshop locations an times, or visit the project website at http://www.urbanesque.com/empty. Adrienne and several volunteers will also take the workshops out into the community, giving companies, schools, churches and neighborhoods an opportunity to participate in this project.

Call us. Take this opportunity to share your fears and hopes. Create powerful statements in community with others and take a stand for resolution resulting in Global Peace and prosperity. We want to hear from you." urges Adrienne and Richard.

To register for the Wednesday workshops, or to host a workshop in your home, school, business, place of worship or organization, call Adrienne at 503-282-6011, or e-mail her at adriennef@aol.com.

The deadline for turning in your box to be included in this project is November 25th, 2001. The Box Project will provide the boxes to you - and some of the decorating materials at the workshops. For complete guidelines and information on To NYC & DC with LOVE", visit the project website at: http://www.urbanesque.com/empty.

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