19 May 2009 - Paintings from "Welcome to Gulu", an art exhibition that was unveiled last week at United Nations Headquarters, are now available for viewing and purchase at the prestigious Lehmann Maupin Gallery in Manhattan.
The exhibition features some 200 paintings by former child soldiers and abducted girls from Gulu, northern Uganda, who benefited from an art therapy project by acclaimed New York artist Ross Bleckner last January.
The children's paintings will be on sale until 13 June 2009. Proceeds from the gallery sale will go towards helping the children of Gulu in Uganda.
Last week, Academy Award winning actor Nicolas Cage, and a host of celebrities (from Donna Karan, Alec Baldwin, Calvin Klein, Famke Janssen, Joy Behar) joined Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in honouring Mr. Bleckner, who was appointed UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking.
"Opening this exhibition at the UN provides a unique opportunity to implore others to join us in our fight against the conscription of children, other forms of human trafficking and modern day slavery", said Mr. Bleckner.
For further information, including on how to make donations, please write to monasebian@un.org
Statement by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
