The olive tree is native to Asia Minor, which in older historic maps, includes Palestine and parts of the Levant. It is the oldest domesticated tree and its oil is the basis of middle eastern and mediterranean cooking.
Mission
2025
The mission for this socially engaged art project is to give each nuclear Palestinian family, who have been pushed out from their homes due to war, an olive tree.
The symbolism of the olive tree is listed below, but perhaps the most overwhelming, is that of survival. In the face of frost or fire (leading to the death of most other trees) new growth sprouts from the roots.
Moreover, that with the tree comes the contact details of the donor, so that the recipient has an opportunity to reach out. However, the land on the which the tree is planted might need more, and without sufficient infrastructure a tree on its own is only a start. A lean-to shack might have been built and need a solar panel roof for means of cooking, or a composting toilet. Holding hands across nations, the donor can ask for appropriate help and the recipient might be able to find ways to arrange for these sort of needs to be met, again with help.
Vision
2025 - 2026
This creative art process is designed to foster dialogue, change perspectives and spark positive change. It enables community members to participate and co-create a project outcome. The desired outcome is to set in place better understanding and to build relationships between groups. The means to achieve that in this project is to create an opportunity for individuals to donate an olive tree to Palestinian individuals in Gaza and connect donors with recipients in the hope of forging a beneficial relationship.
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Olives symbolize peace with its leaves and joy with its golden oil. Aldous Huxley
Ever since a dove brought an olive sprig back to Noah's Ark, it has meant peace. It stands for strength: Hercules' staff was an olive trunk. And sacrifice: Christ was seized on the Mount of Olives and nailed to an olive-wood cross. Olympic victors wore olive wreaths and were rewarded with oil from sacred trees; this symobolized victory and wealth. It signifies the transfer of power. Kings and emperors were anointed with oil. And, from Athena, it means fertility. Mort Rosenblum
Olives like grapes are essential to any life worth living. But you can't see by the light of burning wine, nor massage a friend's temples in grape juice, or heat a house with vines. Mort Rosenblum
There where the sun permits, the olive tree takes root and gains ground. Georges Duhamel
