The Dream Rocket aims to connect art and education through a global collaborative initiative. It will inspire participants to consider, express, and explore their dreams for a better future using Dream Themes such as Energy, Space, Peace, Science, Recycling, etc. The Wrapping of the Saturn V Rocket will recognize the power of global collaboration, and in turn, The Dream Rocket hopes to inspire individuals all over the World not only to dream, but also to recognize their power to pursue their dreams.

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the U.S. intention of “landing a man on the moon and returning him safely  to earth.”   Just   over   eight   years   after   President   Kennedy’s announcement, the earth sat spellbound as they viewed a ghostly, blurred, black and white image of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon and declaring, “One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.” The wrapping with art from around the world of the 37 story tall Saturn V Rocket replica standing at  the  U.S.  Space  &  Rocket  Center  in  Huntsville,  Alabama  has been  rescheduled  to  now  coincide  with  the  50th  anniversary  of  JFK’s  lofty  challenge.  The  “Dream  Rocket”  project,  in response  to  individuals  and  teachers  who  would  like  to  participate,  has  now  provided additional  time  for  that opportunity.  In  May  and  June  2011,  the  “Saturn  V  Moon  Rocket”  is  to  be  transformed  into  the  world’s  largest collaborative art project. Powerful both in message and scale, it will represent the challenges of our future. “The  Saturn  V  Moon  Rocket  is  an  inspiring  and  tangible  reminder  that  when people  work  together  through  collaboration,  any  challenge  can  be  met,  any mission  can  be  accomplished,  and  any  dream  can  come  true.”  Says  Professor Jennifer Marsh, founder of the Dream Rocket project.

Neil  deGrasse  Tyson,  astrophysicist  with  The  American  Museum  of  Natural History  in  New  York,  and  Director  of  its  famed  Hayden  Planetarium,  is  an internationally  known  science  advocate. He encouraged Marsh to incorporate the dream symbolism into the project because, "The Saturn V is the IDEAL icon to represent a big dream. This rocket was designed and built as a collaboration of NEARLY half- a-million people and allowed our human species to venture beyond our WORLD and stand on ANOTHER - SURELY one of the biggest dreams of all time. ENABLING THE DREAMS OF young people to touch this mighty rocket sends a powerful message." Tyson is one of many  space  enthusiasts  who  has  offered  his  support  to  the  Dream  Rocket project.

Marsh explains, “The wrapping of the Saturn V Rocket will consist of over 8000 fabric   and   mixed   media   panels   representing   dreams   for   our   future   and visionaries of our past. Schools, groups, and individuals from  all over the world have been joining in this project for the past six months.” So far, Marsh believes they have participants from an estimated 37 states and a dozen countries such as Bangladesh, Kenya, Serbia, Finland, Australia, Norway, Haiti, and Germany. The Dream Rocket’s goal is to gain participants from 100 countries and all 50 states. Participants are encouraged to ask themselves, “What is my dream for a better tomorrow?” Some of the Dream Theme panels already received depict energy, imagination, conservation, and peace. Others depict community, health, space, and fighting hunger. They have been submitted by schools, churches, groups, and individuals-even from grandchildren through the generosity of grandparents. 
 
 Recently  the  Menomonie  News  Bureau  wrote  about  a  school  group  creating  their panel;  “Mara  DuVernois,  a  fifth-grader  at  River  Heights,  hopes  to  see  tobacco smoking  end  to  improve  people’s  health.  She  created  a  square  with  a  no-smoking sign. “I don’t want to smoke” the 10 year-old said.”I don’t want anyone else to. There are  400,000  deaths  each  year  from  smoking-related  products.  Nicole  Herdahl,  10, also a fifth-grader at River Heights, used fabric markers to color her cloth square with a  red  cross,  a  symbol  of  medical  care  for  all  people  in  the  future.  “I  know  not everyone has a hospital to go to and have health care,” she said. “I want the world to have that.” 
 
From now until the wrapping begins, exhibits of selected panels are being scheduled to provide diverse venues for the panels  to  be  seen.  Currently  on  the  list  are  Educational  Gallery  Group(Eg2),West  Palm  Beach,  FL;  Great  Explorations Childrens Museum , St. Petersburg, FL; Mulberry Street Library, New York, NY; Warren Co. Public Library, Bowling Green, KY; Central Library,  Conroe, TX; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, San Jose, CA; Randolph School, Huntsville, AL; New Britain Public Library, New Britain, CT; Earlyworks Childrens Museum, Huntsville, AL; and the Eclipse Gallery, Algoma, WI. Any additional venues and dates can be found on the Dream Rocket website. After the 60-day wrapping of the moon rocket in May and June 2011, a three year museum tour is currently being scheduled. 
 
About The International Fiber Collaborative (IFC)

The International Fiber Collaborative (IFC) was founded in 2007 by artist Jennifer Marsh. It is a non-profit organization that promotes global collaborative public art initiatives, a marriage of art & education. The IFC prides itself in being a grassroots organization, reaching out to students, individuals, groups and organizations all over the world.

The IFC has accomplished two widely acclaimed projects. The first one being the Gas Station Wrap in 2008 in Syracuse, New York. The submitted artwork for this project came from students and individuals from 15 countries and 28 states. The Gas Station Wrap was the first of its kind and spurred international attention both through press and participants.

The second project was the InterdependenceTree project in 2009 in Huntsville, Alabama. With every project the IFC grows, as does worldwide interest. Participants in the Tree project increased to 23 countries and 39 states. The International Fiber Collaborative is extremely pleased to be working on its 2010-2011 project.

www.internationalfibercollaborative.com

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