traveling 'bridge' exhibition arrives in u.s.  

First stop on its US tour, The Bridge opens in New York City's Trinity Church at Ground Zero
Organized by the Arts NGO, CARAVAN, The Bridge showcases paintings by 47 premier and emerging visual artists from Muslim, Christian and Jewish backgrounds, around the theme of what “bridges” us to each other.  As a multi cultural group, the artists of The Bridge are making the case for using that which we have in common as the foundation for the future of our world. Curated by CARAVAN founder Paul-Gordon Chandler and Lilianne Milgrom (see her painting for this exhibition below) The Bridge launched in Paris at the famous Saint Germain des pres and was viewed by thousands of people over the course of a month.  The visitors came from all over the world, leaving personal messages and comments. Here are a selected few:
  • The Bridge is a space to meditate and think about linking each human being with another – Jota Erre, Spain
  • “All is Possible” - The Bridge offers moments of humility and LOVE in appreciation for diverse expressions coming together in a sacred space in connection with and to the Beauty coming through each art form – Hala, Lebanon
  • A solid bridge! It is exactly what humanity needs right now – Wafaa
London's famed Saint-Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square was the venue of The Bridge's third stop on its international tour following exhibitions in Paris, Cairo and Metz, France.

OUR FINAL STOP WAS IN WYOMING, SEPTEMBER 2016. 
​View images from the world tour, including Wyoming, here. ​

LILIANNE MILGROM'S 'NARROW BRIDGE'

Picture
Narrow Bridge 60 cm x 80 cm. Acrylic on canvas. SOLD

ARTIST STATEMENT
Within minutes of being invited to participate in The Bridge exhibition, the words of a popular Hebrew song began playing in my mind: Kol ha’olam kulo gesher tzar me’od, v’haikar lo lefached. (The whole world is a narrow bridge. The main thing to remember is not to be afraid). I was surprised to learn that these words are attributed to the rabbinical sage, Rabbi Nachman of Bratislav, born in Ukraine in the 18th century and the great-grandson of the founder of Hassidism, a mystical branch of Orthodox Judaism.

These few words have survived intact over the centuries yet they capture the essence of this exhibition. If ever there has there was a time to reach across cultures, religions, borders and peoples in order to pull the world back from the brink, it is NOW. My painting ‘Narrow Bridge’ is a contemporary reminder that in order to bridge our differences we must conquer our fears and reach across that narrow bridge without looking down. YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE HEBREW SONG HERE.
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Lilianne Milgrom
SEE A LIST OF ALL PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND LINKS TO THEIR IMAGES HERE. 
 
READ LILIANNE MILGROM'S ARTICLE 'BRIDGING OUR DIFFERENCES'  IN ART & BEYOND MARCH/APRIL 2015 ISSUE.