Dreams Flags at Philadelphia Free Library to Mid-July

We just wanted to let you know—better late than never!—about the wonderful Free Library of Philadelphia installation of Dream Flags!! For those of you who can enjoy it on-line, we’ve got pictures of it at:

http://www.dreamflags.org/news/10-11news/2011FLPInstallation.htm

 For those in the Philadelphia area, it’s up now in the main entrance of The Free Library Main branch at 20^th and Vine, right next to Logan Circle in Center City Philadelphia, and we hope you’ll have a chance to see it. So many people have already been admiring it every day since it went up at the end of May.

The exhibit went up when we were in Nepal with the Dream Flags. It was organized by Patti Stewart, one of our sixth grade parents, and Sandra Horrocks, the Vice President of External Affairs at the Free Library, so a BIG thanks to both of them!!

The Free Library installed the exhibit in a wonderful space in their main entrance with its 18-foot-high ceilings. Flags are exhibited from 17 feet off the ground all the way to knee level and are exhibited between all of the massive wall columns in this beautiful 1920’s building.  It features about 350 sample Dream Flags from 29 groups, and it’s a wonderful cross-section of ages, places, and schools. We’ve got several Philly branch libraries featured for the first time, along with Philadelphia School District Schools, many other regional schools and groups, and a sampling of flags from across the country and around the world—Washington, Louisiana, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, Delaware, Haiti, Nicaragua, Madagascar, and Belize!

Back Home With Dreams From Nepal

We returned to the USA with our load of Dream Flags and many new connections to Nepal on June 6th. It was, by all measures, a wonderfully successful trip. We owe a huge debt of thanks to Mary Seppala, Head of The Ages Irwin School and to Phurba Sherpa and Anne Keiser of The Greater Himalayas Foundation.

 Our project was received so warmly by all involved at the Khumjung School. Perhaps one of the most telling indicators was the Headmaster’s reading of his own Dream Flag poem from the stage when we had our celebration on May 27th. He also had all of our Dream Flags flying from when they went up to the culmination of their four-day celebration. They were seen by people from all over Nepal and all over the world—New Zealand, England, USA, Australia, and other countries as well.

We probably didn’t realize what a large event it was before we got there, and were very much honored at the way the project was embraced. On the final day, peers of the late Sir Edmund Hillary were there (some flown in because they are in their nineties.) The widow of one of Hillary’s closes friends said about The Dream Flag Project, “Ed would have loved this.” We hope that The Dream Flag Project that we all have created together reflects the spirit of compassion and dedication that Hillary’s work did. It’s certainly a “steep hill” to follow. Here’s a short video from Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund, commenting on what he thinks we can learn from the Sherpa today.

In terms of contacts, we made strong connections with the art, technology, and math teachers at the Khumjung School, and look forward to continuing relationship with them.

Also, here are other resource links from the trek.
General Information About The Trek From Agnes Irwin Web Site

Flickr Site with Photo Sets By Day

Vimeo Site with Videos
General Trek Videos
Sherpa Times Interview Videos

Yesshe’s Blog Narrating Trip With Photos and Videos

Sherpa Times Agnes Irwin 6th Grade Project (looks at Sherpa culture then and now)