Artist Sends Boxes of Peace Around the Globe

With labels that read "Fragile Contains: Peace, Hope or Freedom", visual artist Franck de Las Mercedessends abstractly painted, seemingly empty boxes to anybody, anywhere in the world, for free.

The "Priority Boxes" project is a public art series that seeks to initiate dialogue on peace, challenge people to reconsider their ability to influence change and question the fragility, value and priority given to concepts such as peace. Each box, sent by mail to anyone who requests one, is both a canvas for a unique abstract painting and a platform for communication through art. A mixture of art and activism, the boxes are sent free to convey that something of such priority as peace should not have a price and that art can be both inclusive and accessible.

The project which started in 2006 as an experiment, and is self-funded by the artist and donations from supporters, has evolved into a movement that has been embraced by popular culture, the mainstream media, schools and art educators across America. From his small New Jersey studio, the artist has sent over 9000 boxes around the globe, to countries in every continent. The artist has most recently set up a Kickstarter page as a way for supporters to help raise funds to continue the project.

Franck and his work have been featured on numerous national and international television and radio shows including, NJN News, WMBC-TV, LatiNation, CNN En Español, Noticiero Telemundo and Univision's "Aqui y Ahora." He's also been featured in prestigious publications including, The Christian Science Monitor, Selecciones (Reader's Digest), Art Business News, Hispanic Magazine, SoulPancake, Cosmopolitan Greece, Museum VIEWS, American Style and The Artist's magazine.

For more information on the boxes go to: http://fdlmstudio.com/PriorityBoxes.html