First Posted: 9/9/2013

This past weekend at First Friday in Scranton, the Connell Gallery and the Library Express featured “Interdependence Day Hexagon Project Exhibit VII.”

“Interdependence” means to bring the people of the world closer together to transcend hatred, bias, and resentment, and turn our energies to devising ways in which we can coexist creatively and collaboratively.

Interdependence Day was founded 10 years ago, on Sept. 12, 2003, by Sondra Myers.

Committee member and organizer of the Scranton event, Beth Burkhauser, spoke about how students can get involved with the project.

“I work a lot with art teachers throughout the country and the world. They can do this project any way they want to. The project can be collaborative; you can have more than one student working together to solve a problem, or you can have individual students do research, which is something I value a great deal. They learn about an interdependence theme, hunger in the world, and children’s or women’s rights, and investigate those themes.”

This year, students from Nepal and Haiti are featured in the exhibit. Also, 24 schools from the Chicago area donated their hexagons from their “Do Your P’Art” exhibit to The Connell Gallery.

“I believe that arts can save the world,” Burkhauser said.

This Sunday, Sept.15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Connell Gallery will be hosting a recognition event for the exhibiting students and their family and friends where awards will be given.

Interdependence Day 2013 will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Scranton Cultural Center.

To get involved with the Hexagon Project and other Interdependence Day projects, visit the website, interdependencedaynepa.org, or contact Beth Burkhauser at bburkhauser@msn.org.