Witness update

WITNESS is happy to be inaugurating the launch of two very special projects today: the first-ever comprehensive guide to using video for human rights, "Video for Change: A Guide for Advocacy and Activism," and Artists Support www.witness.org, a poster and fine art benefit project with internationally known visual artists and photographers such as Shirin Neshat, Sebastiao Salgado and William Wegman.

Artists Support witness.org

WITNESS is pleased to announce a new project, Artists Support www.witness.org. The project, founded and curated by artist Izhar Patkin (who is also a WITNESS board member), is a poster and fine art project with internationally known visual artists and photographers such as Shirin Neshat, Sebastiao Salgado and William Wegman.

The project will promote awareness of the WITNESS website as a global meeting place for people interested in promoting human rights and will support its work deploying video and technology to human rights defenders around the globe.

Each image is a collaboration between two artists born in different countries. “At a time when there is so much conflict around the world,” said Peter Gabriel, “it is gratifying to see artists from different cultures and with different religious backgrounds collaborating to bring about change.”

Artists Support www.witness.org will be unveiled at FIAC, the international art fair in Paris, October 5-10, 2005, with the exhibition and sale of the first two collaborative images of the project:

* Shirin Neshat, born Iran & Izhar Patkin, born Israel
To see a larger image of the print click here: Neshat_Patkin.jpg (337.83 KB)

* Sebastiao Salgado, born Brazil & William Wegman, born USA
To see a larger image of the print click here: Salgado_Wegman.jpg (104.49 KB)

These signed editions of 100 are produced by the Swiss fine art publisher Ink Tree.

All sales will benefit WITNESS. To purchase a fine art print visit the WITNESS Store by clicking here.

For more information about Artists Support www.witness.org please contact Contact:

Su Patel, Communications and Outreach ManagerPhone: 718.783.2000 ext. 316Email: Suvasini@witness.org