Put your stamp on world peace in memory of 9/11

Japanese artist Reiko Matsumoto is bringing more than 4,000 2-inch square designs invoking peace to America for the first time this fall. Goddard Riverside’s Bernie Wohl Center will host the exhibition from September 15 and 16, along with workshops to help New Yorkers draw their own visions of peace and add them to the collection.

Reiko launched her Peace Stamps series after the 9/11 attacks, which she felt symbolized the extreme hatred possible between humans. She gathered a group of friends to create designs on rubber stamps that expressed their support for peace and love. She has continued growing the collection of stamped designs at workshops in Tokyo and Nagoya.

Goddard Riverside is helping Reiko fulfill her dream of bringing the stamps to New York City to commemorate 9/11.

“This is not my own exhibition; it is the creative work of many Japanese people.” said Reiko. “I’m thrilled to add American visions to it to express our mutual desire for peace.”

Adults and children are invited to come to the workshops and draw designs on small rubber boards. Their artwork will be engraved and printed as stamps, with one print added to the collection and another given to the participant to keep.

The stamp-making workshops will be followed by a community dance led by Reiko, and a concert featuring singer Paggie Cho performing folk songs in English, Japanese and Korean.