The Crane Project, Helping to See the Losses of the Iraq War
The Iraq war has become the invisible war to the average American. A Pew Research study released in the spring of 2008 shows most Americans underestimate the number of American soldiers killed in the war. The number of stories reporting on the war has dropped off dramatically. The government of the United States is imposing restrictions on reporters and photographers. There are very few images of the price of this war.
As we begin 2009 the coverage is cutting back even further. All of the major television outlets are eliminating a full-time coverage in Iraq. They will be relying on coverage from reporters in the Middle East. According to some reporters, producers for the news programs did not want to show "the same old story". The perception is the news is too depressing for the viewer, and they will change the channel. In addition, rebuilding the infrastructure of Iraq does not have the drama that news producers are looking for in their coverage.
I believe we must see what this war has cost in human life. The United States invaded a country,removed the government, the army and the police, and is now occupying that country. The lives being lost go far beyond the American soldiers, which is tragic enough. Coalition forces, contractors, journalists, and tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens. More than 100,000 lives have been prematurely cut short, under tragic circumstances
.
How can we understand what the price of war is in human terms if we don't see it? This art project is using origami cranes to represent those lives.
We have to see the price to make the right choices in the future.
Summarizing the Numbers:
American soldiers killed: 4223
Coalition forces killed: 316
Journalists killed: 164
Contractors: 446+ (exact number unknown)
Estimating the Losses by the Iraqis
Find Out More About the Crane Project
- Telling the Story with Cranes
- Iraq War By the Numbers
- The Cost of the War in Iraq in Dollars and Cents
- Waxed Paper Cranes are Being Folded by Many Volunteers to Represent the Iraqi citizens
- Why Am I Using Cranes?
- Crane Production to Date:
- What Does a Casualty Number Mean?
- One Crane, One Story
- Ready to Help? Here Are Some Ways to Jump In.
- Peaceful Thoughts or Inspirations
- The Crane Project In Pictures
- War and Peace
Telling the Story with Cranes
Representing the Deaths in the Iraq War in a Concrete, Visible Way
I am planning to hang the cranes on cables. Each strand will represent a week in the war. So, in addition to the cranes giving a clearer representation of the numbers of people killed in this war, we will also be able to see how that happened over time, with the U.S. forces.
The cranes being made to represent the Iraqi citizens will be folded from waxed paper. My hope is to have at least 100,000 cranes to display. This will depend on many people stepping forward, and making a crane, or a dozen cranes, a hundred cranes, or in a few special cases, a thousand cranes. These will be hung in strands of 100. They will not have names, because in many cases we do not have that information. And it further illustrates how invisible these lives, and the loss of these lives, has been to us.
Coalition forces will be represented with cranes folded from white vellum. The country from which they come will be added onto one of the wings. And journalists who lost their lives in Iraq will be portrayed with cranes folded from articles about the war, or the Middle East.
Polymer Clay cranes to represent the American forces killed in Iraq strung on cables by week.
Coalition Forces will be represented with Vellum cranes.
Cranes for Journalist killed in Iraq folded from articles about the war.
Iraq War By the Numbers
- The population of Iraq is 27 million
The population of Texas is 24 million. - Iraqi civilians killed by violence since the invasion: more than 85,000.
More than one million Iraqi civilans have been wounded.
This means that one out of every 120 to 300 civilians have been killed in this war. And approximately one in 25 have been wounded. - For every American soldier killed in Iraq, at least 20 to 25 Iraqi civilians have died.
- Unemployment in Iraq is 30%
Only about 30% of Iraqi students are attending classes. - The cost of the war was projected by the Bush administration to be $50 to $60 billion.
The Cost of the War in Iraq in Dollars and Cents
Waxed Paper Cranes are Being Folded by Many Volunteers to Represent the Iraqi citizens
Why Am I Using Cranes?
Why have I decided to use cranes to represent the lives lost in Iraq? Cranes are symbols of peace and long life, as well as symbols of prosperity and fidelity. It is those first two that offer the connection I want to make.
Legend was, that cranes would live for 1000 years. Thus they became symbols of long life. The connection with peace is a more recent one. It arises from the story of a little girl in Japan, Sadako Sakasi, who became ill with leukemia, ten years after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
I have been making cranes from polymer clay for more than five years, and I have seen many times how people have seen the crane as a way to memorialize a loved one, or to celebrate a new life, a new wedding, or an anniversary. The stories I have been told have touched my heart, and made me more aware of the power of a symbol. These experiences fueled my inspiration for this project.
Crane Production to Date:
Polymer clay cranes made: 1588 (to 5/2/05)
Number of waxed paper cranes on hand (Iraqi civilians): 5000+
Cranes from magazine articles (journalists): 67
Cranes from vellum (coalition forces): 18
What Does a Casualty Number Mean?
Oh Say Can We See?
A war is going on in Iraq, virtually out of sight of the average American. But lives are being lost, and for the friends and families of those people who lose their lives, the war is very much in their awareness. The Crane Project is an art project that attempts to make the invisible, visible.
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One Crane, One Story
Bobby's Crane
A few years ago I was asked to make a dozen cranes that said "Bobby" on one wing, and "Believe" on the other. I then found out Bobby story. Years later, I carry Bobby's story in my heart, and it was part of the inspiration for The Crane Project.
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The Crane Project
Showing the human price of the Iraq war.
It is easier for us to imagine the trillions of dollars being spent in Iraq than it is to imagine the thousands and thousands of lives being lost. The Crane Project is an art project that attempts to make the numbers concrete. Origami cranes are being made from polymer clay to represent the soldiers, the journalists, and the Iraqi citizens who have lost their lives in the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySee How The Project Goes, from Clay to Cranes on Cables
The Crane Project, Behind the Scenes
From clay to cranes strung on cables, what are the steps to make that happen?
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Ready to Help? Here Are Some Ways to Jump In.
- The primary way that people are helping is by making the waxed paper cranes to represent the Iraqi citizens who have lost their lives in the war. The goal is to make 100,000+ waxed paper cranes.
Each crane is folded from a 4" square of waxed paper. It is ordinary waxed paper, found in the grocery store. I have found having a paper cutter makes it easier to cut, especially if you plan to fold any significant number.....but, every crane helps. An envelope with one crane is appreciated, and will help bring the project closer to the goal.
The cranes can be left flat (wings un-opened), so they are easier to mail. They can be sent to me at:
The Crane Project
P.O. Box 2924
Acton, MA 01720-6924 - If you work with polymer clay, you can make the disks that I use to help crimp the polymer clay cranes in place on the cables. I need two for each crane, so it isn't hard to calculate that I will need more than 8000! So, every little task that someone helps with, means I can focus more of my time on folding the polymer clay cranes, publicizing the project, searching for a place to install it, and raising funds.
If you want to make these discs, you need translucent polymer clay (not Sculpey III), and a 3/8" (approx.) circle cutter. Roll out the clay to a thickness of about 2mm, or about a 4 or 5 on an Atlas pasta machine. Cut your circles, and cure them for at least 1/2 hour. Longer means stronger! I will drill the holes in the center to the diameter I need. Just put them in an envelope and mail them to The Crane Project. (address above). - Finally, if you don't feel crafty, but you still want to help, there are several ways to do so. You can make a donation to the project. (There is a PayPal donation button on the blog website; The Crane Project ). The expenses for materials are over $2000 to date, and donations are far less. Hundreds of unpaid hours have gone into this project.
- Or, you can spread the word. Send people here, or to the blog. Throw a crane folding party....more fun than you might imagine. Lots of interesting conversation is bound to happen. Keep your eyes open for possible venues to exhibit the project, or other groups that might be able to support the project with labor or grants.
This is a Community Project
It needs the hands, hearts and minds of many to make it a reality.
It needs a home to be displayed, temporarily or permanently so that people can see the cost of the Iraq war in human terms.
You can make waxed paper cranes.
You can make the small polymer clay discs that are above and below each crane in the strands.
You can make a donation.
You can spread the word.
Peaceful Thoughts or Inspirations
Your own, or ones that others have said (with credits, of course!)
There are many wise people out there who have reflected on the cost of war, and the reasons for peace. Add your thoughts, or quotes that you have heard and love. Be sure to vote your favorites or most inspiring up the list.
George Bernard Shaw
"Peace is not only better than war, but infin more...2 points
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama
"Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, i more...1 point
The Crane Project In Pictures
A picture is worth so much more. Images of the project as it comes together.
Segments of a few strands of cranes from the Crane Project.
Waxed paper cranes are being folded to represent the Iraqi civilians who have be...
Cranes for the Crane Project (http://www.thecraneproject.blogspot.com )
A segment of two strands with cranes for the Crane Project.
Wax paper cranes folded from 4" squares of waxed paper or deli paper. ...
The container on the right holds cranes for the first three months in 2004. On ...
War and Peace
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Suggestions, Comments, and Questions
I would love to hear your input about the project.
flowergardener wrote...
Oh Judy!
This is so touching. I pray you will receive all the cranes you need, and the exposure your precious project deserves.
Posted December 26, 2008
debjp325 wrote...
Wow! What a great idea and tribute. My son is serving and I hope you never make a crane for him or anyone else, but your gesture is touching.
Posted October 22, 2008
Number1Athlete wrote...
Amazing lens, 5 stars plus favorite
RIP to the deaths of this war
Posted October 07, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
What a beautiful tribute. Grief is lessened when its shared.
Lizzy
Posted October 06, 2008
chefkeem wrote...
A hearty SquidAngel Blessing for your outstanding project, Judy!
Posted October 05, 2008
CrypticFragments wrote...
great 5* lens Judy, what an amazing undertaking... I do NOT believe war is sometimes necessary, but that mankind (and its governments) needs to explore more alternatives...killing to prevent killing is stupidity. Peace starts on a personal level. Learn to love your neighbor, folks! Don't listen to me, listen to Jesus, to Muhammad, to Buddha...every single one of them taught this!
Posted October 04, 2008
a_willow wrote...
This lens entered Fresh Squid Contest for October as one of the lenses that has been featured on Fresh Squid group during September!
Posted October 04, 2008
Peace Paraphenelia
Wear Peace, Carry Peace, Use the Message of Peace
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