Declare - Document - Celebrate Your Interdependence
Will you do the impossible? Do you agree to end violence, end prejudice and achieve respect for all?
Let’s Do The Impossible!
Made in Rockford, Illinois between 1988-1994 Roland Poska’s lithograph prints serve to unite individuals and nature around their commitment to interdependence.
The Borderless Series
From May 2023, individuals and organizations worldwide have signed Poska’s fifteen Declarations of Interdependence. This Borderless Series celebrates the diversity of cultures and the cross-cultural connections that weave together a global community of interconnected humans.
“We the People”
Community Partner: DC Commission on Arts and Humanities
Signed in: Washington, D.C., Chevy Chase and Rockville, Maryland, and Jerusalem
Dates: February 11, 2024-September 16, 2024
Notable Signing Locations: Georgetown University, Gallaudet University, Howard University, University of the District of Columbia, American University, George Washington University, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Fredrick Douglass National Historic Site, United State Botanic Garden, Kenilworth Park, United States National Arboretum, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Union Station, Eastern Market, We Act Radio Studios, Rock Creek Park, BloomBars, Nationals Park, The Anthem, Cleveland Park Library, William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Neighborhood Library
“And the Universe Shall Be Born Again and Again, and Again...” (left half)
Community Partner: Charter for Compassion
Signed in: Monterrey, Mexico
Dates: September 17th, 2024-September 21st, 2024
Notable Signing Locations: Nobel Peace Laureates Conference, Paseo Santa Lucía, La Gran Plaza. This Declaration was signed by Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
“And the Universe Shall Be Born Again and Again, and Again...” (right half)
Community Partner: Peace Center at Northwest Vista College and the Alamo College District
Signed in: San Antonio, Texas
Dates: November 17th, 2024- November 23rd, 2024
Notable Signing Locations: Northwest Vista College and San Antonio, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Alamo Colleges District Headquarters, San Antonio River Walk, Vegan Avenue on Main, Hash Vegan Eatery, Historic Market Square, Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia, Hemisfair Park, Japanese Tea Garden, Sophia’s Grove, Grace Lutheran Church
“Made in Japan” (left half)
Community Partner: Jacob Toll and Family
Signed in: Beirut and Batroun, Lebanon
Dates: September 18th, 2024-November 13th, 2024
“Made in Japan” (right half)Part 1
Community Partner: Jacob Toll and Family
Signed in: Miami Beach, Miami, and Key Biscayne, Florida
Dates: February 6th, 2024- February 9th, 2024
Notable Signing Locations: University of Miami, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Cape Florida Lighthouse, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami Center For Racial Justice, The Hip Hop Museum, International Longshoremen's Association
“Made in Japan” (right half) Part 2
Community Partner: Stanford University
Signed in: Stanford and San Francisco, California
Dates: February 6th, 2023 - May 20th, 2023
Notable Signing Locations: Stanford University, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Oracle Park
“Thou” (left half)
Community Partner: Refugees International
Signed in: Washington, D.C.
Dates: September 16th, 2024 - ongoing
Notable Signing Locations: Refugees International Headquarters
“Thou” (right half)
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“I Have A Dream” (left half)
Community Partner: University of Pennsylvania
Signed in: Philadelphia, Pennslyvania
Dates: February 14th, 2024 - ongoing
Notable Signing Locations: University of Pennsylvania, Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Paul Robeson House & Museum, Liberty Bell
“I Have A Dream” (right half)
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“Democracy in Education”
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Notable Signing Locations: Rockfordians Outside of Rockford: Prosper, Texas, Pella, Iowa, Minneapolis, Minnesota, New York City, New York, Lake Ozark, Missouri, Boston, Massachusetts, Los Angeles, California, Chicago, Illinois, Chester, OH, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kailua, Oahu
The birthplace of Jane Addams in Cedarville, Illinois
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers from Rockford
Illinois Sister Cities International Conference
Eunice and Nee Abloh, parents of Virgil Abloh
“A.I.M. We Can Achieve”
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“Roots”
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“There is No God, Save God”
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“The Symbol of Yin and Yang”
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Roland Poska (1938-2017) Artist, Educator, Peacebuilder
Roland Poska was a pioneer of handmade paper in the world of contemporary art. He was born in Scotland in 1938 to Lithuanian parents who immigrated to the United States in 1948, and made a home in Rockford, Illinois. He received degrees from Rockford University and Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he was introduced to the mechanics of paper making. He later cofounded the Milwaukee School of Art and Design and taught there while simultaneously running a lithography print studio, Fishy Whale Press.
Roland Poska a Force of Nature
“My philosophy is that everything in nature is the result of forces meeting or parting. The thing I was interested in was not the objects in the landscape, not the result of the forces, but the forces themselves.” -Roland Poska
Roland Poska by Grace Cote of Jerald Melberg Gallery
“Roland Poska was also concerned with the balance between the peaceful and violent natures of humanity, as well as our ability to push each other away and bring each other closer. All of these boundaries are rough and il-defined. These concepts informed and defined his oeuvre (body of work), which takes the form of lithographs and collage-like cotton fiber and pigment “paintings” and sculptures.”
Poska’s Art Unites
The Declaration of Interdependence - Borderless Series was curated by Peacebuilding Connections. Peacebuilding Connections works to bring together broad and diverse cultures around non-violent goals and objectives.
Declarations of Interdependence
