Friends of Tibetan Women's Association
OUR MISSION
Friends of Tibetan Women's Association (FOTWA) / Art Refuge is a nonprofit educational organization. Its mission is to aid refugee, impoverished and/or orphaned children through art, social sponsorship and cross cultural programs. Through projects such as the Art Refuge Program, FOTWA encourages creative spirits to soar and, through the international language of art, spread the stories of children and promote cultural understanding.
It is a difficult journey for Tibetan children leaving their homeland and for Sri Lankan children, displaced by civil war or tsunami, to recover stability in their lives.
Through projects such as the Cross Cultural Exchange Program, FOTWA encourages youth from Tibet, Sri Lanka and America to share their dreams and their experiences through art, poetry, letters, videoconferences and emails. We ask, "What can we learn from each other?" We learn that the lessons reveal much about ourselves and a worldwide need for compassion, respect and peaceful coexistence.
PREVIOUS EVENTS & EXHIBITS
ART REFUGE: Mahara Gallery, Waikanae New Zealand,
September 10th - October 23rd 2005.
ART REFUGE: Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth, New Zealand,
June 29th - September 4th 2005.
ART REFUGE: Sarjeant Mahara Gallery, Wanganui New Zealand,
April 8th - June 5th 2005
ART REFUGE: Te Manawa Gallery, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
February 18th - 30th March 2005.
ART REFUGE: Centre of Contemporary Arts (COCA) Christchurch, New Zealand,
March 10th- 28th March 2004.
http://www.coca.org.nz/index.html
ART REFUGE: Auckland University, Auckland, New Zealand,
July 17th - July 19th 2003.
ART REFUGE: Capital E, Wellington New Zealand
April 12 - May 11 2003.
ART REFUGE: Wallace Arts Trust Gallery, Auckland New Zealand
March 8 - March 30th 2003
http://www.wallaceartstrust.org.nz/
TIBETAN & SRI LANKAN CHILDREN: THEIR ARTWORK AND THEIR STORIES
Whidbey Island's Bayview Gallery Langley, WA
August 7-September 3, 2001
CHILDREN OF COMPASSION: A GENERATION IN EXILE
Chi-Lin Gallery, Meredith, New Hampshire
July 2001
THE ART OF EXILE: PAINTINGS BY TIBETAN CHILDREN IN INDIA
Dimock Gallery, Washington, DC
June 23-July 6 2000
html: http://www.gwu.edu/~bradyart/
ART OF EXILE
Transition Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello Idaho,
January, 2000.
http://www.isu.edu/union/gallery/
2000 SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL: TIBETAN CULTURE BEYOND THE LAND OF THE SNOWS - CONSERVANCY FOR TIBETAN ARTS & CULTURE
TIBETAN CHILDREN’S PAINTINGS: Newark Museum, Newark NJ.
June 14 through July 12,1998
AT HOME AWAY FROM HOME: TIBETAN CULTURE IN EXILE
Museum of International Folk Art
March 1998 – March 1999
Santa Fe, NM.
THE WAY HOME: A CHILD’S EYE VIEW OF TIBET
Ridley-Tree Education Ctr, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara CA.,
Nov. 14-Dec. 12, 1997.
TIBET UNLEASHED: YOUTHFUL VISIONS FROM EXILE
Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, CA.,
Sept. 20-Nov. 1, 1997.
BECOME
INVOLVED
There are many ways you can help. In addition to becoming a member of Friends of Tibetan Women's Association, you can sponsor a Tibetan refugee, support the Art Refuge or make a donation. [More information]
Colorful note cards are now available of images made by children in the Painting Clubs. FOTWA has teamed up with Great Path Publishing to create an exciting new line of 18 cards as well as laser prints, giclee prints and journals. Please visit GREAT PATH to see and order these terrific images.
Letter from the President of FOTWA
FOTWA is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization.