Kindness Tree

Our AVS art students are learning about the Japanese-American artist Yoko Ono and her socially engaging projects such as the 'Wishing Tree.' Every summer visitors have the opportunity to write their wishes on tags and hang them from a special tree. Periodically throughout the course of the project, staff remove the wishes and send them to Ono’s “Imagine Peace Tower” in Reykjavik, Iceland. The wishes from this tree join millions of other wishes from trees around the world to become part of Ono’s global peace project.

Inspired by Yoko Ono’s work, we are using the trees in front of our Somerset building to create a schoolwide art project called the AVS Kindness Tree. Students are writing words of kindness and encouragement on special tags to be hung from the branches. These messages are directed towards our AVS community members and passer-bys alike. Our neighbors are also invited to participate using extra tags in a wooden plaque outside. Here's a link to their very thoughtful work so far! Students are continuing to learn about the significant contributions of API artists and to make connections with community-based art through this reflective and collaborative project.