Rose Cloud Annear

Namaste.
One of the key aspects of the Babel Project has been
the examination of identity and how identities are
created.
Who are we really?
Many sages through out time have sought to illuminate
and investigate this age old question?

the snow goose
need not bathe itself
to make itself
white

neither need you
do anything
but be yourself
Lao-Tsu

Who am I?
Why I find this such a challenging question, is it
asks me to look deeply into my roots.

I was born in Mangakiekie, Tamaki Makau-rau/Auckland
33 years ago. (So I am blessed by grace to have been
included in this youth project!)
I love living in Aotearoa so close to the mountains
and the sea, to be able to walk in the bush and
breathe in clean air!
I moved to Wellington last year to study at TLC. It
has given me so much hope to see ecological
regeneration projects around Wellington.

I am an only child, brought up by my mum, she is from
Taihape.
Her blood lines are Irish, Scottish, Lithuanian, Isle
of Man.
My Dad is from Glasgow,Scotland and he came to Wellington at 21.
My family is artistic including painters, poets, a
computer software designer, an interior decorator,
jewellers.
I am a romantic and an idealist. I am currently
studying Art & Creativity at the Learning Connexion in
Tapu Te Ranga/Island Bay.
Apart from a brief sojourn to visit my Scottish
relatives I have not travelled overseas.
I have found practicing buddhism very helpful in my
life and have been exploring different meditation
techniques for 7 years.
I love the works of Thich Nhat Hanh, reading any of
his books are a balm to my soul.
A favourite is " Miracle of Mindfulness"
I make art because I want to share and remind people
of the beauty of life, I have played with all-sorts of
media and I am now investigating painting/collage. I
am intrigued by " the gift" aspect of art making-and
all of my creations thus far have been towards the art
of offering.
To remember life is sacred.

'Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, relative
to all that is'
Black Elk. "

The Babel Project attracted me as an opportunity to work with the Peace Foundation,

exploring issues of peace, identity, and conflict resolution.

As an artist, I want my work to be about

Peace

Enjoyment

Art

Creativity

Empowerment

As a student of art: I make art to investigate my relationship with wonder,

expressing the joy of making and the possibility of inspiring others.

I believe in peace with my whole heart.

I believe we welcome peace via truthfully embracing our divisions,

accepting ourselves, acknowledging our fears of the unknown

and each other. As we lay down our weapons of mistrust, greed and falsity

we embrace the preciousness of our shared humanity.