July 9,2010

Dear Maik Papagiannakis

It is a great happiness to observe that lately our project is greatly accelerating. Our energy which has streghtened by you joining us gives us the good news that this acceleration will increase incrementally.We are looking forward to embrace new peace ambassador friends.

 Dear Maik

When I watched your traditional celebration ceremony on our web-site, I saw that it is a very familiar and close culture for a country like us which is at the position of being the synthesis.of very different cultures.

I feel very excited and happy to congratulate and welcome Greece in your person as the ambassador once again  which is our neighbour, and brother country right beside us.

Love and Peace

Nurcan Türkoğlu

WPMP Ambassador for Turkey

June 23, 2010

From Ms. Eyona Cvitan, WPMP Artist Ambassador for Croatia

Dear Maik,

What a pleasure to welcome you into our team of Ambassador Artists on the way to dreaming into reality Tiite's amazing Global Art Installation.  I have known Tiite and Brent for a long time.  They were always "out there" on the cutting edge of large, innovative and often controversial art projects.

We must all find our way through the challenges of life and hopefully into some meaningful expression of our existence.  Tiite and Brent have always followed the path of meaning instead of a path of comfort and complacency.  They have dared to dream big and to stand behind those dreams; to keep dreaming when the rest of us lacked courage and conviction; to keep on going when the only voice was their own.

It is important to understand that it is the conviction and the tenacity of these two friends and artists that have brought this project to where it is now.  To the point that we can add our own voice to theirs and help dream a better and more meaningful world into existence.  All of us who are in this project share a common belief in a world in which man is not above or outside of his environment and is not preoccupied with differences but is embracing similarities.

You are the first of the Artist Ambassadors to forge the Peace Marker yourself.  There is powerful symbolism in this.  A project reaching maturity; finding more of its own voice and not always having to be spoken for.  It is through your hands that we are witnessing this emancipation, this maturing, when a name garners its own power and recognition. 

Each of us brings our own energy and our own "signature" to the project; however each one of us is but a step in completing our collective dream of a Global Peace Matrix, completed and activated.

From one little step to another: Welcome!

Many good wishes for successful completion of Peace Marker Greece.

Eyona Cvitan

Peace Marker Croatia

June 28, 2010

From Ms. Dea Music, WPMP Artist Ambassador for Slovenia

Dear Ambassador Maik!

Hello and welcome to the Global WPMP Peace ART project.

I know that all of You, citizens of the Greece are having heavy times on your shoulders to live lately, but still. Your country has survived many turbulent times-past ages, so it will those. Sometimes you need to lose something, to appreciate it even more. But knowing, that WPMP Peace ART project, is always inviting very special, open hearted souls to join inn, I am so very happy, that Peace Portal will find its home, where it is so much needed right now. Socrates and Plato knew then, that they can trust those strong Light warriors with their wisdom, those warriors, that are marching right now, singing the Song of Survival and Better days. Maik, you are one of them. Go out and sing the song and dance a strongest dance of Zorba's, and let know your brothers and sisters, that the Key of a better Future,  is within your own hands. No one knows better way out, but You. Get up, rise up and don't let dark tunnels, to override your golden paths. You have been there before and you all got out, as stronger and better man and women. We trust in your brave hearts. The Oracle is positive and patient. So are We, the rest of the World, that are watching what are you going to do... and if you still don't know, just enter your Hearts, they will show you the Way to the Freedom and Peace.

I am so happy to welcome you and Greek nation on Board,  on behalf of my nation, Republic of Slovenia and me, WPMP ambassador, Dea Music.

June 30,2010

From Ms. Kat Epple, WPMP Artist Ambassador for U.S.A.

Greetings Mr. Maik Papagiannakis

I welcome you as the Worldwide Peace Marker Project Ambassador to Greece! I am very excited that the Peace Marker Greece will be permanently installed in the villagesquare of Armeni on the Greek island of Crete.

I read your biography which is posted on the WPMP.net website about your impressive art and career, and am very happy to connect with you.

The Worldwide Peace Marker Project is a brilliant work of art that embraces a vision of global peace, and creates a network of prominent international artists who are all committed to working towards peace. As this matrix of artists, countries, and peace markers continues to grow, I believe that it will help to move the world closer to peace, health, and benevolence.  As artist Ambassadors, we all strive to unite the world in a common vision of world peace, environmental stewardship, world health, global cooperation and tolerance. I look forward to working with you on this important project.

I send warm greetings to the people of Greece, and thank you and them for embracing a vision of world peace. I look forward to visiting your beautiful country some time in the future, and will look forward to meeting you in person. Ambassador Eliza Monet is a dear friend of mine, and I plan to visit her in Crete within the next year.

I wish you continued success in your art.

Welcome to our family of WPMP Artist Ambassadors!

In Peace and Harmony,

Kat Epple

WPMP Greece Artist Ambassador Maik Papagiannakis

Introduces Peace Marker Greece during annual Klidonas celebration

WPMP Artist/Ambassador, Maik Papagiannakis, holds Peace Marker Greece on June 24th in Armeni on the Greek island of Crete.  He is flanked by village officials and special guests. Armeni  Association President, George Averkakis (white shirt, center) has just announced to a crowd of about 1000 townspeople  that the Peace Marker will be permanently installed in the village square. Photo by Yannis Kakanos

by: WPMP Correspondent   Brent Scheneman

Images by Brent Scheneman

June 27, 2010

Peace marker Greece to be installed in Armeni, Crete

Armeni, Crete, June 24 — Peace Marker Greece will be permanently installed in the village square of Armeni on the Greek island of Crete. The President of the Cultural Association of the Armeni, Mr. George Averkakis, made the announcement to a gathering on June 24^th of about 1000 attendees at the village’s annual Klidonas celebration. Maik Papagiannakis, WPMP’s new Artist/Ambassador, stood-by with Peace Marker Greece in hand.

Maik Papagiannakis, a sculptor, is the first WPMP Artist/Ambassador to have fabricated his nation’s Peace Marker by his own hands. Major media TV and press outlets of Crete interviewed Artist/Ambassador Papagianniaki on the occasion. Video and photo images of the marker were seen across Crete for the first time. Also, in attendance was Artist/Ambassador Eliza Monet of Peace Marker Germany.

Ambassadors Maik Papagiannakis and Eliza Monet

Klidonas is a traditional Cretan holiday that occurs on the summer solstice and coincides with the Orthodox Feast Day of John the Baptist. In Armeni it marks the largest village celebration of the summer and showcases performances of the best of local folk musicians, dancers and poets. The ancient custom of fire-jumping is practiced by many villagers, old and young alike. This year the music and dancing continued non-stop until after 3 a.m.

Maik Papagiannakis is in planning meetings with Mr. Averkakis and other local elders and officials in the weeks to come regarding the design and installation of the pedestal, plaques and other site-work. The date for the official installation and the village celebration that is to take place in commemoration of the event will be announced soon.

Thanks, Brent

(Link for Yannis Kakanos story http://www.yanniskakanos.gr/reportaz/politistika/300.htm The text is in Greek but the images speak all languages.

More About Ambassador Maik P. HERE

Image By WPMP's Brent Scheneman

Peace Marker Greece is turning out to be an extraordinary experience. Our WPMP correspondent Brent Scheneman, during one of his visits to Crete at Chania, befriended Maik and soon discovered the talent and the range of his work. Maik owns Inox Art and creates special fabrication for a wide range of stainless steel custom fabrication and of course his passion for the creative part of his oeuvre, art.

It is not surprising that Maik offered to create Peace Marker Greece in his studio and by his own hand, a labor which I admire and the result of which is a beautiful Peace Marker Greece made by the hands of one of the most talented of Greece's native sons.

Even though plans are on the way for the unveiling or activation of Peace Marker Greece, I'm deeply gratified and humbled by the caliber of artists uniting with the Worldwide Peace Marker Project to give human civilization and the world a peace offering that can help to change the course of human history in a most positive and glorious way.

It is with great satisfaction that I welcome WPMP Artist Ambassador Maik Papagiannakis as together we add one more point of peace in our world at this crucial moment in history when deeds begin to take the place or mere words.

Tiité June 19, 2010