Fine Art Magazine Red Cros Haitian Art Post

SEE: Mirror, mirror on the wall: Show humanity to us all

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 16, 2010) — Bernd-Hans Born, owner of Bevel Craft in Lake Worth, Florida, unveiled his “Mirror of Humanity” at a recent luncheon honoring Red Cross donors who have given major gifts to support earthquake relief in Haiti. Created out of his love for the work of the organization around the world, Born’smirror features 1,300 glass pieces laid carefully in the form of a Red Cross flag. The artwork illustrates four symbols used by sister Red Cross societies around the world: the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, the Red Crystal and the Red Star of David; each emblem used in different geographic locations around the globe to afford protection to people affected by disaster and those assisting them.

Valued at $50,000 and measuring over 24 square feet, the stunning hand-beveled Mirror of Humanity was made possible using rare tools and machinery. “Beveling is a lost art,” said Born, whose glassworks are reproductions of antique mirrors. “The Mirror of Humanity started as a design on a wood board, and then each piece of glass was polished and cut to fit into the design, and then beveled to give the mirror a special look.” The beveling process, which involves patiently cutting glass at an inclination to form angles other than 90 degrees, creates a crystal-like refulgence and iridescent shimmer. Born, who is also a Red Cross volunteer, hopes people across the country will support the organization by having their names engraved on the mirror’s many pieces. He plans to donate all money raised by the Mirror of Humanity back to the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross after touring the mirror around the country.

The Red Cross is the world’s largest humanitarian network, made up of 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies and more than 97 million volunteers. Red Cross societies around the world abide by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality, while educating the public about the Geneva Conventions and the fundamentals of International Humanitarian Law. In a world where warfare and civil strife are a daily reality for millions, the American Red Cross made a difference by teaching 91,361 people last year about the important principles of International Humanitarian Law. The American Red Cross also utilizes an International Response Fund which enables the non-profit organization to respond to disasters around the world, such as recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

To learn more about the Mirror of Humanity, call Stephanie Langlais, Director, Donor Development, for the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross at 561.650.9137.