Focusing on Interdependence

Interdependence Day 2014
Connect, Collaborate and Create Community
Scranton: The Greater Scranton Interdependence Day Committee announces events as part of Scranton’s First Friday on September 5 in Scranton. They are hosting two events: Interdependence on the Square, Courthouse Square and Interdependence Hexagon Project opening at the Steamtown Mall.
The event at the Lackawanna County Courthouse Square will feature art projects, music, and performances that celebrate the reality of interdependence and the values of collaboration and cooperation within local communities and across all communities nationally and worldwide. The Courthouse square event is co-sponsored by Keystone College.
Drumming with Steve Kurilla, music and juggling by Jamie Orfanella, the Nepali traditional dance group, and art projects will entertain. Information about the Interdependence Day Project and local volunteer opportunities through the Voluntary Action Center will be available.
The Interdependence Hexagon Project Exhibition VIII: will open at the Mall at Steamtown, 2nd Floor from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The Hexagon Project is an international visual arts project whose purpose is to allow students and citizens, from around the world and here in Northeastern PA, to express ideas about their connectedness, rights and responsibilities as both local and global citizens. Hexagons, metaphors for interdependence, create a fascinating “bee hive” or interlinking collage, of visual ideas in diverse media such as iron, wood, ceramic, paint, cardboard and bread which must be experienced to fully appreciate. Hexagons from Abington Heights, Dunmore, Mt. View and Riverside High Schools will be exhibited as well as from community events such as Fire and Iron, Riverfest, Library Express, Artists for Art and Arts on the Square.
The space will be alive with art, hexagon-making, food and music supplied by the Mark Woodyatt Global Fusion Experience. The Exhibition is available until September 26. Hours will be display on the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/HexagonProject. Or check the website www.hexagonproject.org.
“This is the first of many years that we hope to celebrate the concept of local and global interdependence at Courthouse Square during September. The event will feature art projects, music, and performances that celebrate the reality of interdependence and the values of collaboration and cooperation within local communities and across all communities nationally and worldwide,” said Susan Constantine, chairperson Courthouse Project event.
The Interdependence Day Project, which was conceived and launched locally by Sondra Myers in 2003, recognizes that all people must exhibit respect for others – throughout the world and the United States, in Scranton, and in our neighborhoods. The Interdependence Day Project recognizes that survival depends on the interconnectedness and interdependence of human beings and the global environment.
After September 11, 2001 the founders of the Interdependence Day Project designated September 12 as a day of reaching out to neighbors and the world community to show that working together for real security, economic and social justice, and preservation of the earth is essential. Interdependence is inescapable. Constantine said, “Our purpose at Courthouse Square on September 5 this year is to celebrate and honor interdependence.”
A panel discussion on September 10 at the Scranton Cultural Center featuring a dialogue about “The Journey from Indifference to Interdependence.” For more information contact linda.walsh@scranton.edu
For other Interdependence Day events and projects, visit the web site www.interdependenceday nepa.org and on facebook www.facebook.com/InterdependenceDayScrantonPA.