In 2008, Peter was invited to Amman, Jordan, while his art was on display in the U.S. Ambassador’s residence there.
THE ART
In 2008, the curator of the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program (established to create cross-cultural dialogue and foster mutual understanding through the visual arts) selected work by Peter for exhibition in the ambassador’s official residence in Amman, Jordan. She chose paintings from Peter’s 2005 Music, Art & Beautiful Things project, three of which are shown above, and invited him for a week-long residency in conjunction with his art’s display.
THE RESIDENCY
During his residency, Peter led art workshops at The Queen Zein al-Sharaf Institute for Development. He trained a team of 10 Jordanian aspiring art educators, who then assisted in workshops with younger children in the morning and older youth in the afternoon over four consecutive days. Each young person was asked to create a work of art about a time in their life when they benefited from having a second chance (a theme central to Peter’s own growth, and one he’d used with great success in his prior work with youth at home). The workshops generated dozens of works for a culminating exhibition on the value of having second chances in life.
In addition to leading the art workshops, Peter was guest of honor at a reception hosted by Ambassador David Hale for Jordan’s arts community, and presented a slide lecture on his social-engagement art practice at the art museum Darat al Funun.
INTERESTED IN CONNECTING?
Do you have ideas, thoughts, or questions you’d like to share with Peter? Do you want to introduce yourself and your work to him? Perhaps explore a collaboration or involvement in one of his projects? Then Peter wants to hear from you.
