1,000 Flowers

I'd like to share my vision with you and invite you to spread the word across your networks, and to be part of an upcoming event called 1,000 Flowers.

1,000 Flowers is about women being sensual and being treated gently by their men (and women). This initiative will pour light into the impact of domestic violence on Aboriginal women. One of the 1,000 Flowers outcomes is a television advertisement showing Aboriginal women (actually all women) that they do not have to tolerate domestic violence. It will also show men that there are other ways to communicate, and violence is not necessary.

The vision is to have 1,000 women create 1,000 flowers that will be displayed and auctioned in an event on Saturday, 24th August 2013 at the Botanic Gardens in Kings Park, Perth. The flowers can be paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs, grown from a seed, stolen from a garden . . . There is no limit to the imagination - expressing sensuality and gentleness through a flower.

The first flower was created by my beautiful daughter, Heather. She made a batch of play dough to entertain her tiny daughter, Paige. Heather is a pastry chef and she sculpted a gorgeous purple rose that looks like it should be on a wedding cake. It set like clay and she gifted it to me for Mothers Day. A photograph of her flower is on the 1,000 Flowers Facebook page.

I am looking for people to join the 1,000 Flowers team and to provide resources to create the event. The team needs to be made up of:

* movers and shakers in event planning
* artists who would like to do workshops with women and girls leading up to the event and on the day
* men who would like all men to be gentle to their women, and who can find ways to express that leading up to the event and on the day
* artists and celebrities who would like to create and donate a flower artwork for the event, with proceeds of sale going to Zonta International (a worldwide organisation of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women through service and advocacy)
* people in media, or who have connections to media, that could get some publicity for the event and be at the event to capture the day
* people who know how to write funding submissions as we will be requesting support from Art Flight and Country Arts WA
* someone who would like to take on filming the project from conception to conclusion
* someone who could draft and write letters to notorieties to invite them to attend the event
* a musician or band who would like to play at the event
* anyone else (individuals, organisations, philanthropists, sponsors) who would love to contribute in some way financial, time, creative, brainstorming ideas . . .

My project contact details are:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/1000-Flowers/250014525137809

Tracy Wilkinson
PO Box 253
Melville WA 6956

M: 0414 392 822
E: Tracy.Wilkinson@westnet.com.au

To make this event possible, I have been bringing together teams of people who are organising workshops in art, self expression and healing for women and men to experience sensuality and gentleness. People have come forward and offered their time and resources to make this event happen, including the great fun leading up to the event. We are still looking for support in a range of activities, as well as financial sponsors and donors who can cover things like the venue hire, a marquee and the printing of our flyers, posters and invitations.

If you know any artists who might like to donate flower artworks, or you can further this initiative through your own networks, we would very much appreciate your support. We also need help to source and find funding for the entertainment for the day.

This initiative will pour light into the impact of domestic violence on Aboriginal women. One of the 1,000 Flowers outcomes is a television advertisement showing Aboriginal women (actually all women) that they do not have to tolerate domestic violence. It will also show men that there are other ways to communicate, and violence is not necessary. Perhaps you have contacts that can further this piece of work.

There will also be a wedding, a living demonstration of the union of a man and a woman and the possibility of a gentle, sensual relationship. Perhaps you can contribute to its organisation, even source sponsors and / or donors to make it happen.

I am really excited about this event and welcome peoples contribution to 1,000 Flowers. I certainly dont have all the answers and have never done anything like this before, so I appreciate anyone who can help make this event possible. Would you like to join the 1,000 Flowers team?