THE WAR ROOM...you can't look away.

August 24, 2004, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

chashama presents THE WAR ROOM by William T. Ayton
with the Peace Piece by Adelle Lutz, Sara Driver, & Courtney Harmel

launched as part of THE IMAGINE '04 FESTIVAL OF ARTS, ISSUES & IDEAS

THE WAR ROOM
Beginning its world tour in NYC as part of the Imagine '04 Festival of Arts, Issues, & Ideas, THE WAR ROOM (www.warroomproject.org) by British artist William T. Ayton (www.ayton.net) is a four wall, painted installation featuring: Warriors, Victims, Witnesses, and The Aftermath of war. Inside THE WAR ROOM, you can't look away. Ayton's poignant images and direct, emotive style compel viewers to confront fears, complicity, and courage in the face of war. chashama (www.chashama.org) presents THE WAR ROOM from August 26 through September 30, at 208 W. 37th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Ave.) an event of The Imagine '04 Festival (www.imagine04.org), a sponsored project of The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), and produced by Global Momenta, Inc. "When the tapestry of Picasso's Guernica was covered up at the U.N. for a Colin Powell speech building up to the war in Iraq," said Ayton, "I knew I had to do something. The War Room is my response."

STOREFRONT WINDOW INSTALLATIONS
The gallery's storefront window showcases THE PEACE PIECE, a multi-component art project originally conceived by Adelle Lutz with sound and video installation by Courtney Harmel & Sara Driver. THE PEACE PIECE was performed in NYC spring 2003 with support from Creative Time; women wearing burkhas painted with UN statistics walked throughout NYC public spaces offering a silent peace meditation with every step.

During the Imagine '04 Festival, a 6' x 9' painting of "The Witnesses" by William T. Ayton will also be shown at chashama's storefront window at 217 E. 42nd St. curated by Michael Quattrone & Visible Theatre. "The Witnesses" both extends Visible Theatre's audience to the public at large, and echoes THE WAR ROOM's message that we all bear witness to our times.

SPECIAL EVENTS at chashama gallery, 208 W. 37th St
OPENING RECEPTION at chashama: August 26, 6-9pm
THE WAR ROOM special events include literary readings, performances and panel discussions.
During the Imagine 04 Festival, The War Room will hold daily "brown bag" roundtable discussions at 12:30pm on topics relating to The War Room and the daily themes of the Festival, as follows:
· Sat. 8/28, FREEDOM, "You Can't Say That!: artistic freedom during wartime"
· Sun. 8/29, COMMUNITY, "Women at War: warriors, victims & witnesses"
· Mon. 8/30, DEMOCRACY, "War Movies: propaganda and protest through film"
· Tues., 8/31, JUSTICE, "Bringing War Home: survivor aftermath"
· Wed., 9/1, PROSPERITY, "The Cost of War: who pays the price?"
· Thur., 9/2, FUTURE, "Imagine a world with no war: writers and artists envision a world of peace"
Evening Salons 9/13, 9/20, 9/27: 7 p.m. Performances & Panels
Closing Party 9/30, 6-9 p.m.
more info on www.warroomproject.org. Special events are subject to limited seating capacity (reservations recommended: events@warroomproject.org, first come first served).

HOURS & LOCATION
THE WAR ROOM at 208 W. 37th St. will be open 8/28 to 9/2 (daily 12 - 6p.m.) and 9/3-9/30 (12-6pm, closed Sun., Wed., & holidays). Admission to THE WAR ROOM is free; all donations welcome.

For more info, contact: 845.876.1510

www.warroomproject.org
www.chashama.org