Artists for Independence Day

Rather than hold a barbecue or a fireworks display today, local and international organizations are joining together to give Laguna youth the opportunity to express their hopes and dreams with art.

From 1 to 4 p.m., Endangered Planet Gallery and Foundation, the Iraqi Children’s Art Exchange and the Art Miles Mural Project are partnering with Iraqi artist Qais Al-Sindy to help kids create a mural to express their thoughts on their lives and country in the context of the current conflict in the Middle East.

The painting project will be at Endangered Planet, 384 Forest Ave., Gallery 13.

As part of the Art Miles Mural Project, Al-Sindy will work with kids here to create the American portion of a mural that then will be completed by Iraqi refugee children in Jordan.

The finished mural will be an emblem of the children’s willingness to work together to create a more peaceful future; it will be presented to Queen Rania of Jordan as a sign of appreciation for her support of multicultural youth programs.

Al-Sindy was born in Baghdad, and currently divides his time between Iraq and Jordan.

He has exhibited everywhere from Michigan to Berlin to Qatar, and has completed commissions in Baghdad for the French Embassy and the Academy of Fine Arts.

Al-Sindy just finished another mural in Northern California on Tuesday.

“It was an amazing experience, with such enthusiastic kids and youth,” he said.

Dozens of such murals are being created around the world as part of the Iraq Art Mile; more than 2,000 miles have already been completed for the UNESCO program in 125 countries, with 5,000 miles expected to be displayed on a digitized pyramid of peace in 2010 in Egypt.

For more information, call (949) 497-5690 or visit endangeredplanet.net.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at [email protected].