Artist Lauren Voiers commissioned for John Lennon monument

American art sensation, 19 year-old Lauren Voiers is creating a monument to world icon John Lennon and his message of peace.

Commissioned by California-based organisation the Global Peace Initiative, the monument will be presented to the world’s leading permanent Beatles-themed visitor attraction, the Beatles Story (www.beatlesstory.com) in Liverpool, UK, and will be sited in a significant position within the city.

John’s son Julian Lennon will unveil the monument to the world at a high profile ceremony in October 2010, the month his father would have turned 70. US artist Lauren Voiers has been asked by Julian to incorporate, within the monument’s design, a white feather – which to Julian is a symbol of both his father's spirit and of peace.

This is the second in a series of monuments commissioned by Global Peace Initiative. Their aim is to place a peace monument in each of the world's seven continents and spread artistic symbols of peace across the globe. The first monument was presented to the President of Singapore on behalf of the people of Asia in 2005.

Liverpool, UK has been chosen as the European location for this second monument, dedicated to the spirit of one of the city’s most famous sons. The monument will act as a place of pilgrimage for people wishing to remember one of the world’s most influential icons, complementing the Strawberry Fields memorial in New York.

Lauren’s monument, which she entitled ‘Peace & Harmony’, will be unveiled in Liverpool, UK during the city’s John Lennon Tribute Season which will take place from 9 October – 9 December 2010. This extensive season of cultural events will celebrate what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday and marks the 30th anniversary of his untimely death. The unveiling of the monument will generate enormous interest from around the world with European dignitaries and celebrities being invited to the ceremony.

Artist Lauren Voiers said, “I’m thrilled to have been asked to create a Global Peace Initiative monument dedicated to John Lennon. My art has always been influenced by the ideals of peace and harmony and it is a great honour to spread this message across Europe through my sculpture. The fact it will be located in Liverpool, the home town of such a music legend, is phenomenal.”

Jerry Goldman, Managing Director of the Beatles Story said, “The UK has long needed a monument to John Lennon which acts as a counter balance to the Strawberry Fields memorial in New York’s Central Park. We’re incredibly excited about Global Peace Initiative’s gift to the city. It is the perfect opportunity for us to provide the world with a permanent reminder of John Lennon in the city where his spirit was created.”

Ben Valenty, Director of Global Peace Initiative said, “We have been searching for an appropriate location for the second Global Peace monument for sometime. The creativity and history that surrounds Liverpool make it an ideal destination for Europe’s art piece. Lauren’s work is exceptional and we’re very excited that this commission is underway.”

Patricia Yates, Director of Strategy and Communications, VisitBritain said, “We expect this monument to attract hundreds of thousands of Lennon fans from all around the world to visit Liverpool – one of the UK’s most exciting destinations.”

Mike Storey, Lord Mayor of Liverpool said, “We are very proud that Global Peace Initiative has chosen to site the European monument in our city and to celebrate the desire for peace of one of our most famous sons. Liverpool should rightly be the focal point for Lennon fans throughout the world.”

The Beatles Story www.beatlesstory.com

§ The Beatles Story, based in the UK, is a unique attraction that transports visitors on an enlightening and atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of the Beatles.

§ The Beatles Story is located on Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock and a second site is based at the city’s Pier Head. The attraction opened in 1990 and has welcomed 3million visitors from all around the world.

§ The experience is accompanied by the ‘Living History’ audio guide which is narrated by John Lennon’s sister, Julia. The Beatles Story offers English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, and Japanese audio guide translations.

§ Tickets: Adult £12.95; Concession £8.50; Child £6.50 Aged 5-16 years; Under 5yrs Free

§ Open 7 days a week, all year round (excl 25/26 Dec). Opening hours everyday: 9am - 7pm (last admission 5pm),

§ T: 0151 709 1963 The Beatles Story, Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AD

John Lennon Tribute Season: 9 Oct – 9 Dec 2010
From October 9 – which would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday, to 9 December – the day after the 30th anniversary of his assassination; organisations in Liverpool, UK will join forces to host a series of live music, film, poetry and art events as part of the John Lennon Tribute Season. For further information visit www.beatlesstory.com

White Feather: Spirit of Lennon Exhibition – part of the John Lennon Tribute Season

§ White Feather: Spirit of Lennon - on display at the Beatles Story Pier Head - tells the intimate personal story of life with John Lennon that only Julian and Cynthia Lennon can give.

§ Through personal on-screen conversations, Julian and Cynthia take visitors on a journey through their family life - re-living phases of a story which begins in Liverpool in the band’s early days. A wealth of previously unshared personal possessions and Beatles heirlooms are on display.

§ The exhibition runs at the Beatles Story’s Pier Head site until 31 December 2010.

§ Tickets can only be purchased on arrival at the Beatles Story.

§ Exhibition-only visitors can purchase tickets for £8 (£6 concessions), however the exhibition can be viewed as part of admission to the whole Beatles Story (over two sites). Admission to the whole Beatles Story is Adult £12.95; Concession £8.50; Child £6.50 Aged 5-16 years; Under 5yrs Free

White Feather Symbol
The John Lennon Peace Monument will include the symbol of a white feather within its design on the request of John’s son Julian Lennon.

As Julian Lennon explains: “One of the things my father said to me was that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be ok, it was by, in some shape or form, presenting me with a white feather.”

Then, around ten years ago while Julian was on tour in Australia, a group of Aborigines presented him with a white feather, asking him to be the voice for their plight. This episode motivated Julian to set up The White Feather Foundation, a newly founded charity that raises funds to improve the lives of others and spread a message of peace.

Global Peace Initiative and Lauren Voiers
The Global Peace Initiative’s purpose is to complete a seven-continent art project designed to promote peace through art. The project calls for young artists to create seven large sculptural monuments (one for each continent) to be given as gifts of peace to various nations around the globe. In 2003 the Global Peace Initiative commissioned Alexandra Nechita to create the first Global Peace Initiative monument. In 2005 Nechita’s monument, aptly named ‘Let there be Peace’, was dedicated by the Global Peace Initiative, the artist and Singapore’s President Nathan, who accepted on behalf of the people of Asia.

Global Peace Initiative commissioned Cleveland, Ohio-born teen artist Lauren Voiers to create the second monument due to her highly acclaimed peace paintings. Discovered by international art expert Ben Valenty at just 17, Lauren’s paintings are exhibited at the Wentworth Gallery, America’s largest art distributor and sell for up to $25k.
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