The Forgiveness Project
The Forgiveness Project is an initiative that captivates individuals and communities at large. It spreads a powerful message and invitation for individuals and communities to carry a seed of forgiveness when interacting with themselves, with others, and with the larger community that they reside in.
This initiative aims to instill the importance of forgiveness within individuals, communities, and society as a whole. Forgiveness is displayed as a skill that can be cultivated, and the Forgiveness Project serves as a catalyst for this process. Nice2MeetU, a New Jersey-based nonprofit art collective, is dedicated to uniting multidisciplinary artists who use their art forms to promote visual and auditory expressions of forgiveness and healing. In partnership with schools, coffee shops, universities, tango venues, and other places, the project welcomes participation from the broader community.
But what is the Forgiveness Project exactly?
At its heart, the project is an immersive art installation that focuses on mitigating society's difficulty in moving past hardships with love. It is an opportunity for us, as a community, to actively engage in forgiveness, whether it be directed towards ourselves or others. The art installations that are created are adorned with living flowers and serve as a constant reminder to connect with our inner selves and find the strength to forgive.
The flowers and seeds for individuals to bring home emphasize the idea that we must keep tending to ourselves to grow.
Designed to foster reflection and community support, the project creates a space where individuals can embark on their forgiveness journeys. Through participating in this collective endeavor, we can validate our experiences in a communal space and draw strength from the support of others.
Nice2MeetU is honored to partner with Rising Tide Capital to create a meaningful impact. This collaboration reflects the institute's commitment to promoting cultural expression and fostering personal growth among Latino communities, African-American communities, Asian communities, and the larger cities we all share, love, and must protect.
Nice2MeetU, as a nonprofit art collective, has a rich portfolio of projects. Among them are Weaving Narratives, a long-running initiative involving Latino artists Martin Calvino and Jusleine Daniel, and the "Nice2MeetU" Club, which brings together talented individuals such as Milena Calvino, Asena Erkan, and Natalia Kolodzei. The Forgiveness Project stands as a testament to the collective's dedication to using art as a powerful medium for dialogue and social change.
The Forgiveness Project promises to be a transformative experience for all who engage with it. We invite you to consider funding our project or partnering with us to bring the project to Jersey City.
Let us embark on a journey of forgiveness, healing, and community building together.
Forgiveness Gardens: a collective art installation
What is it? A Collective Art Installation
Why is it done? Forgiveness is an acquired skill, and participating in the project allows us to actively create awareness of the intention to forgive ourselves or others. As we keep the flowers alive in the art installation itself, we force ourselves to go back to our initiative to forgive.
Doing the project as an art collective validates our experience in a communal space where we can feel the support of others.
Share, and feel the support of the community that is formed around you!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
What do you need to do: send us your forgiveness story and a bouquet of flowers.
To participate in the Forgiveness project, send us a bouquet and a letter telling us your forgiveness story so we can start weaving your spirit of forgiveness and your needs for forgiveness with the work that we do, creating an alive art installation.
Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 23, Edison, NJ 08818
Interested individuals, institutions, and businesses can sponsor the project by engaging themselves and/or the communities they serve to answer the artist’s questions on:
Have you ever forgiven anyone?
Have you ever been forgiven?
What does it feel like to forgive?
What does it feel like to be forgiven?
Share your forgiveness story
Written responses and the associated art installations/artworks containing them will be shared on Instagram. Partnering institutions can subsequently request from the artists an exhibition proposal to showcase the artworks at their locations.
Follow us on Instagram to follow the project (@ac.n2mu)
Your contribution will support young artists, and the activities of the art collective, including placement of Forgiveness Gardens.
Special thanks for sharing our projects!
We greatly appreciate your support in helping us spread the word about our work. Your generosity in sharing our projects on your social media channels, with your colleagues and friends, and within your community has been invaluable in raising awareness and support for our cause. We are grateful for your efforts in helping us make a difference and look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.
Thank you again for your support!
Sponsored by Institute for Practical Life