Serbia

Photo of Belgrade special to WPMP by Brent Scheneman

May 21, 2009

WPMP celebrates important landmark.

The occasion was marked by the departure from the City of Cape Coral, Florida, of the Peace Marker Serbia enroute to Belgrade in the care of WPMP Artist Ambassador Branislava Bianca Cirakovic Vukovic.

The landmark is the maturity of the project in its development and significance to the world as the WPMP as a work of Data A art can finally reveal its ultimate objective and rationale.

Namely that :

As the whole world comes to terms with the sobering conclusion that the challenges faced by human civilization will have to be faced by civilization working as one human family. Therefore, just as President Barack Obama remarked in his commencement address to the Notre Dame University class of 2009 speaking about the task that lies ahead, "...we must find a way to live together as one human family."

Well, the WPMP is proudly the first work of art in the history of humanity that is designed to create a global experience where humanity will come together to take the first step forward in that direction as a species. Furthermore, the WPMP by virtue of its objective of world peace also sets up an example of the spirit that makes that first step such a remarkable milestone for life on earth.

What follows is report on the event that took place on May 21, 2009 at Cape Coral City Hall and presided by the honorable mayor of Cape Coral Mr. James D. Burch.

Tiité

Photos special to WPMP By Kalon Baquero

WPMP Artist Ambassador Branislava Bianca Cirakovic Vukovic, poses with Peace Marker Serbia and next to Peace Marker France which is the next marker in line for deployment.

Mayor James D. Burch and Ambassador Vukovic as the Mayor Burch read a special proclamation (below)

The Peace Marker Serbia witnessing ceremony was attended by WPMP USA Ambassador Ms. Kat Epple, who presented the Peace Marker on behalf of WPMP.

Cape Coral Breeze News reporter Mr. Drew Winchester and Mayor Burch. The article can be read from its source http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/506566.html of as recorded in the WPMP archives (below)

Cape artist brings countries together using art for peace

Newest marker is heading to Serbia

By DREW WINCHESTER, dwinchester@breezenewspapers.com

POSTED: May 22, 2009

Article Photos

A lifetime of work is coming to a close for Tiité Baquero.

His vision, the Worldwide Peace Marker Project, is nearly complete, and with its conclusion comes a rare vantage for the Cape Coral artist - one he hopes will live far beyond his own life, beyond the city, maybe even beyond the final vestiges of mankind.

"I have generated an art form which will live without me," he said. "It's a work of art like no other."

Though the World Peace Marker Project was launched in 2002, Baquero has been working on the ideology behind the project for four decades.

After 15 years of intense study, he slowly developed his approach to a new art form, one that is now placed strategically throughout the globe.

Baquero and 198 other artists have been part of the mammoth undertaking, as the peace markers are now at locations in four continents including Germany, Japan, Turkey, Morocco and Italy, to name a few.

Each marker has an ambassador, one who is charged with developing an approach and program by which to install a new peace marker in his or her country, in turn spreading the message of world peace.

Emmy-award-winning flautist and North Fort Myers resident Kat Epple acts as America's ambassador. She has known Baquero for the better part of 30 years and watched as the project grew.

"I've known Tiite for many years and I've been an advocate for the worldwide peace marker project," she said. "I stay in touch with the other ambassadors around the world and help promote the idea of worldwide peace."

The newest marker is on its way to Serbia, following a ceremonial farewell Thursday at City Hall.

Mayor Jim Burch joined Baquero and his children, Rick and Kalon, Epple and Serbian ambassador Bianca Vukovic for the ceremony.

Vukovic will escort the peace marker on a trip to Serbia, where it will settle in as the one of the final pieces of Baquero's unique vision.

"The vision never changed ... the requirements were so tough," Baquero said. "I wanted to redefine art the way Leonardo DaVinci did in his time."

Burch said Cape Coral should be proud to be part of Baquero's artistic legacy, and that he is lucky to be associated with it himself.

"That the project began in Cape Coral is really remarkable, especially when people realize it all started here," Burch said. "He's (Baquero) been doing it with little fanfare all these years .... it's really incredible. What a concept."

Though the physical work of the World Peace Marker Project may be coming to a close for Baquero and the ambassadors, the need to promote worldwide peace will never end.

As a crossroad for peace, art and unique cultural ideologies, Baquero hopes the World Peace Marker Project will continue to generate realities from the dreams he began some four decades ago.

"It's our job to dream hard," Baquero said. "And I dreamed hard."

Special thanks to the collaborative effort of The Mayor's office and to (fromleft) Ambassador Kat Epple, Erik Baquero, Kalon Baquero, Tiité (who helped a little) Mayor Burch, Ambassador Vukovic and Mr. Thomas Beste who took this photo.

However, Peace Marker Serbia would not exist at all if it wasn't for the skill and dedication to the the project by the group of people responsible for its creation.

Mr. Timothy Morey, machined the individual components of the Peace Marker. Mr. Kurt Esposito, who engraves the legend and prepares the surface for the placement of the Peace Coin.

Waltzing Waters Inc. under the direction of Mr. Michael G. Przystawik and the expertise of Mr. Bret ..... who welds all of the parts together and polishes the Peace markers.

Thank you all for making this day a moment in history for the whole world.

Tiité