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Breathing Stones Media Kit
For Immediate Release
April 22, 2006
Media Contact: Steve Courchesne
508.893.0644 ext 204 / steven@planetaid.org
Breathing Stones
Master Sculptors of Zimbabwe
Exhibition and Sale
May 3—25, 2006
South End, Boston — Planet Aid and United South End Settlements’ Harriet Tubman House will pre-
sent Breathing Stones: Master Sculptors of Zimbabwe, a three week exhibition and sale of
sculptures from Zimbabwe. The exhibition is located at 566 Columbus Ave (on the corner of Mass
Ave).
Seventeen craftsmen have breathed life stories into African stones. Attendees of the exhibition
will witness the sculptors’ dialogue of rough and polished surfaces. Rarely can admirers of art touch the
objects of their affection. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to enjoy a visceral experience—and
touch the stones. Children are welcome!
Exhibition Events
Wednesday May 3rd: Opening Reception at 6:30pm
A multi-media event: Enjoy appetizers courtesy of Pepper’s Fine Foods while listening to the
live music of Balla Tounkara. Witness films of the artists at work in Zimbabwe. The cross-cultural col-
laboration will provide a virtual journey to Zimbabwe in the heart of Boston. Valet Parking available.
RSVP is appreciated.
Friday May 19th: Concert at 6:30pm
A follow-up concert by Balla Tounkara, a kora musician from Mali. The kora is an exotic mix
between a harp and a guitar. Balla’s music hauntingly captures the spirit of the Breathing Stones.
Wednesday May 24th: Closing and Auction at 6:30pm
A last chance to enjoy the artwork. An auction will be held for a select few of the remaining
pieces.
For information, contact: 508.893.0644 ext 204 / steven@planetaid.org
Preview the artwork at: www.friendsforeverzimbabwe.com

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Breathing Stones Media Kit
Event Details

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Breathing Stones Media Kit
What do recycling
clothing and sculpt-
ing stones have in
common?
Planet Aid’s mission is to
assist communities to attain
higher standards of living.
This includes improving edu-
cation and health programs,
but it is also important to help
communities develop sustain-
able forms of income.
We will be doing just that in
May by providing African art-
ists with a platform to earn a
living for their families.
Beginning May 3rd
, we are
hosting sculptures by Zimbab-
wean artists in Boston.
The exhibited sculptors pro-
duce wonderful art, but lack
the means to sell it on the
international stage.
Planet Aid also has a mission
to teach the public about
other parts of the world.
We hit two targets with the
same stone by hosting a sales
exhibit of sculptures from
Zimbabwe. A community of
seventeen artists and their
families gain income by selling
high art on the world market.
Secondly, Planet Aid gets to
expose Americans to a beauti-
ful aspect of Zimbabwean
culture.
From what we see on TV
and in newspapers, we envi-
sion Africa as a helpless place.
We are constantly barraged
with images of fly-ridden chil-
dren made of skin and bones.
It is wrong to think of Africa
as nothing but a place of suf-
fering. Innovative music and
art are being produced south
of the Sahara.
The sculptures are fair trade
art. The artists get fair prices
for their artwork and are in-
volved throughout the proc-
ess.
The sculptors know the
prices at which the stones are
sold. This gives them a fair
chance to decide whether the
relationship is equitable or
not.
Visit our Boston exhibition
to touch the proof. Maybe
you’ll even want to take a
stone home with you.
“Innovative music
& art are being
produced south of
the Sahara.”
Master Sculptors of Zimbabwe in Boston
The Story of Friends Forever
Planet Aid has developed a
relationship with Friends For-
ever, a collective of Zimbab-
wean artists and their friends.
Friends Forever was formed
in August, 2004 as a private
limited company in order to
create new and collective
ways to sell Zimbabwean
sculptures in other countries.
Friends Forever buys pieces
of art from the artists and
arranges sales exhibits outside
of Zimbabwe in cooperation
with different partners. When
possible, one of the artists
will travel to attend the exhi-
bition.
The first five exhibitions
were held in municipalities
around Barcelona, Spain. Exhi-
bitions followed in Austria
and the Netherlands.
A third of the proceeds
from sculpture sales contrib-
ute to a health program for
the artists and their families.
With regards to medicine to
treat anything from the flu to
AIDS, artist Lawrence said:
“considering the situation in
the country now, medication
is expensive. Not many of us
can afford that. But now we
have got a budget for that.”
Planet Aid’s role began
when Friends Forever ap-
proached us to partner with
them for an exhibition in Bos-
ton. We jumped at the idea
to help the artists and also
promote a virtual journey to
Africa.
Visit the Friends Forever
website to learn more about
the artists and to see exam-
ples of their art.
w w w . f r i e n d s f o r e v e r z i m b a b w e . c o m

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Breathing Stones Media Kit
Photo Gallery
Atlanta Exhibition, March 2006

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Breathing Stones Media Kit
Photo Gallery

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Breathing Stones Media Kit
Non-Profit Status
· incorporated in 1997 in Massachusetts as a non-profit organization
· recognized by IRS as a 501(c)3 organization
· IRS Tax Exemption Number: 04-3348171
Mission Statement
· Planet Aid’s missions are to improve the environment by recycling clothing & support eco-
nomic and social progress in developing countries.
Collecting Clothing
· In 2005, Planet Aid collected and resold 58 million pounds of clothing, a 38 % increase
from 2004.
· 9 regional offices operate separate collection operations: Holliston, MA; Philadelphia, PA;
Paterson, NJ; Detroit, MI; Baltimore, MD; Cleveland, OH; and Kansas City, MO; Rich-
mond, VA; Columbus, OH
· The clothing is sold wholesale to a number of customers in the U.S. and abroad.
· Collecting clothing for re-sale is value-adding. The clothing we collected created over 200
jobs with our customers, and thousands of jobs with retailers in developing countries.
Where the Proceeds Go: Our Development Aid
· Used clothing is collected and resold as a means to financially support development pro-
jects overseas.
· Planet Aid’s 2004 net income was $3.3 million. $2.7 million was donated to development
projects in southern Africa, Central America, China and India.
· The projects we support include teacher training colleges, pre-schools, HIV/AIDS outreach
and community development.
Contact us for more information.
Planet Aid Fact Sheet
One Cross St. Holliston MA 01746
Tel. 1.888.893.0648 Fax. 508.893.0641 info@planetaid.org