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Language

Warsaw
10%
Dresden
10%
Guernica
10%
Coventry
10%

Cast Lead is an art initiative opposed to violence. Its weapons are the theatre, the arts and common sense. We aim to connect current manifestations of excessive violence to cities that, in the past, have been the target of horrific bombardments themselves and have found a way of commemorating these events in a special way. As the venues for our art exhibition, we have selected the cities of Dresden, Guernica, Coventry and Warsaw. Below you can read all about how you can help us realize this exhibition!

In the Middle East the danger of a Third World War is growing

As this calls for the insight and the efforts of all world citizens, the Cast Lead Art Project is exploring possibilities, questioning information and finding connections.
Cast Lead is named after ‘Operation Cast Lead’, the senseless bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli army during Christmas 2008, causing 1430 deaths. Ingrid Rollema, the initiator of the Cast Lead Art Project, has been working in the Gaza strip for 18 years and has experienced for herself that violence can never be the solution. 

As shown above, Cast Lead tours with two theatrical installations that are always adapted to their changing surroundings. The first installation, ‘Cast Lead’, consists of 1417 hanging ghostly apparitions made of clay in the colors of the Promised Land. The second installation was realized in collaboration with Guus Boudestein. It originated from the registration of the Cast Lead 1 and II processes in book form, providing an account of all artworks and texts that were produced during the project. Together, these 1430 books make up the “Nomadic Memorial Cast Lead”, conjuring up the image of a graveyard. The “Nomadic Memorial Cast Lead” is composed of 1430 books set up in battle array, ‘floating' above the floor. Every book is unique and has the name of one of the Operation Cast Lead casualties on its cover.

 

Mission

Intervention through commemoration!

By commemorating and empathizing with the immeasurable suffering of civilians during the past world wars, a government sends out a signal that this is something that should never happen again. But it does happen! It happens every day! Therefore, it is not enough to commemorate the things that are now part of history in ‘safety’. We have to commemorate ‘actively’ by also involving current events. In a democracy, citizens can force their representatives to make meaningful decisions and take a stand against violence. Through the actions of whistleblowers and the Occupy movement we have seen that articulate citizens are indeed able to make important contributions. A change of perspective can change the world in a single blow. The fall of the Berlin wall was unexpected. Mandela’s release from prison was unexpected. This is why people who do not believe in miracles are not being realistic!

Cities

GUESTS are looking for HOSTS!

Cast Lead has selected four cities to visit. All have been subjected by unnecessary bombardments in the past. These cities have been chosen on the assumption that their history of disproportionate and unnecessary violence, and the way in which that violence is commemorated today, makes them places where violence in the here and now is also condemned. The selected cities are: Warsaw, Dresden, Guernica and Coventry.

Warsaw
10%

Cast Lead has selected the city of Warsaw for a contribution during the project because of its history and possibilities for the future.

Background

During the Second World War, Warsaw was so intensely bombarded by the Germans in 1939 and the Russians in 1944 that by the end of the war 84 % of the city was in ruins. Warsaw’s turbulent history took place on the intersection of a great variety of cultural influences and, in the wake of The Warsaw Ghetto, the city is actively committed to ending violence. The Guernica Commemoration was attended by representatives not only from Hiroshima and Volgograd, but also from Warsaw. 

Status

We are getting started! We are reaching out to the cities for support for our initiative and our first airline tickets are booked!

Help us

Cast Lead aims to link the commemoration of unnecessary bombardments in the past with current events. This is why the contributing artists are looking for Kindred Spirits, Pressure Groups, Like-Minded Individuals and Organizations that are sympathetic to the project. Of course, these parties are more than welcome to visit our events, attend the opening ceremony or participate in discussions with writers and artists. The Cast Lead Art Project consists of six artists from out of town, unfamiliar with the city they are visiting. That is why we urgently need HELP in getting this project noticed. What school or institute would like to invite us to give a lecture? Who would like to volunteer to do PR for us in their own style?  Who wants to 'like' us on Facebook? Who wants to ‘share’ and make us big? Who wants to give us accommodation for a week? 

Email us Donate
Dresden
10%

The way in which Dresden commemorates its history shows that the city is not preoccupied with the past, but also concerned about the present and future. And this is a reason why Cast Lead would like to visit the city and contribute.

Background

In the night of 13 to 14 February 1945, the Allied forces used 1500 aircraft to bomb the historic city of Dresden, killing 25,000 people and destroying 75,000 homes. The Allied forces should never have bombed the city! At that time, Dresden was harboring a large number of refugees and the city did not serve any particular strategic, military purpose. 

Status

We are getting started! We are reaching out to the cities for support for our initiative and our first airline tickets are booked!

Help us

Cast Lead aims to link the commemoration of unnecessary bombardments in the past with current events. This is why the contributing artists are looking for Kindred Spirits, Pressure Groups, Like-Minded Individuals and Organizations that are sympathetic to the project. Of course, these parties are more than welcome to visit our events, attend the opening ceremony or participate in discussions with writers and artists. The Cast Lead Art Project consists of six artists from out of town, unfamiliar with the city they are visiting. That is why we urgently need HELP in getting this project noticed. What school or institute would like to invite us to give a lecture? Who would like to volunteer to do PR for us in their own style?  Who wants to 'like' us on Facebook? Who wants to ‘share’ and make us big? Who wants to give us accommodation for a week? 

Email us Donate
Guernica
10%

Guernica has a Peace Museum. An excellent location for a contribution by the Cast Lead Art Project.

Background

On 26 April 1937 the city of Guernica in the Spanish Basque Country was raided by both German and Italian bombers. It was the first terror bombardment in Europe. The exact number of casualties is still unknown. Guernica has become a household name because of Pablo Picasso's painted answer to this injustice. During the 2013 commemoration, Juan José Ibarretxe, the former leader of the Regional Basque Government said: “The bombing of Guernica is a mirror reflecting the injustice of bombardments in this day and age. It makes us empathize with the people who are involved in the thirty wars that are still raging on this planet today.” Guernica has a Peace Museum. An excellent location for a contribution by the Cast Lead Art Project.

Status

We are getting started! We are reaching out to the cities for support for our initiative and our first airline tickets are booked!

Help us

Cast Lead aims to link the commemoration of unnecessary bombardments in the past with current events. This is why the contributing artists are looking for Kindred Spirits, Pressure Groups, Like-Minded Individuals and Organizations that are sympathetic to the project. Of course, these parties are more than welcome to visit our events, attend the opening ceremony or participate in discussions with writers and artists. The Cast Lead Art Project consists of six artists from out of town, unfamiliar with the city they are visiting. That is why we urgently need HELP in getting this project noticed. What school or institute would like to invite us to give a lecture? Who would like to volunteer to do PR for us in their own style?  Who wants to 'like' us on Facebook? Who wants to ‘share’ and make us big? Who wants to give us accommodation for a week? 

Email us Donate
Coventry
10%

Cast Lead has selected Coventry for a contribution during the project because of the combination of dream and reality.

Background

On 14 November 1940, 500 German aircraft bombed the English industrial city of Coventry, causing over 554 deaths, wounding 865 people and destroying 4300 houses and the historic city center.

Stopping injustice can also be a very simple thing. In the Middle Ages the people of Coventry were suffering under the oppressive taxation by Leofric, Earl of Mercia. His wife, lady Godiva, appealed to her husband to lower taxes upon which he jokingly replied that he would agree to her request if she would ride naked through the streets of Coventry. When Lady Godiva took up the challenge, Leofric kept his promise and taxes were remitted.

Status

We are getting started! We are reaching out to the cities for support for our initiative and our first airline tickets are booked!

Help us

Cast Lead aims to link the commemoration of unnecessary bombardments in the past with current events. This is why the contributing artists are looking for Kindred Spirits, Pressure Groups, Like-Minded Individuals and Organizations that are sympathetic to the project. Of course, these parties are more than welcome to visit our events, attend the opening ceremony or participate in discussions with writers and artists. The Cast Lead Art Project consists of six artists from out of town, unfamiliar with the city they are visiting. That is why we urgently need HELP in getting this project noticed. What school or institute would like to invite us to give a lecture? Who would like to volunteer to do PR for us in their own style?  Who wants to 'like' us on Facebook? Who wants to ‘share’ and make us big? Who wants to give us accommodation for a week? 

Email us Donate

Help us

Help us

Cast Lead takes the view that art should not be forced upon society, but that society should look forward to receiving art. So, how can the hosts let the guests know that they are welcome? By showing that they support and value the underlying thoughts of the project. By liking us on Facebook?! By sending us information? By engaging in conversation with the people of the Cast Lead Art Project via info@gegotenlood.nl? By telling us that you will attend the project when it arrives in your city? By suggesting venues that can host the project? By offering the artists a place to stay? By adopting a book? In short, by showing a personal sign of solidarity with a form of art that is operating from within the heart of art and society.

Furthermore, Cast Lead has 1430 unique books that, together make up the Cast Lead Nomadic Memorial and 1430 unique books that will be spread all over the world. You can buy one of these books and financially support the project with your purchase. Ten percent of the project's proceeds will go towards funding the ‘Open Studio’ in Gaza, helping children that are handicapped and traumatized by the war.  For more information, please visit www.hope-foundation.nl.

Partners