"3 MINUTES WORLD SILENCE" takes place each January 1st at 11 o'clock in the morning, local time.
Founded in 1983 by Mary Cassini, a weaver and actor, the first World Silence took place in Pike's Brewery, Oakbank, South Australia, at the eleventh hour on January 1st, 1984.
To tell everyone about the World Silence, Mary wrote letters to many people worldwide. In 1986, with her husband, Peter Stapleton, she travelled around the world to tell people about the event. In East and West the idea was universally supported 'for our children and for the future of mankind.'
In 1987, Mary was invited by the International Theatre Institute in Russia to attend Mikhail Gorbachev's "Moscow Forum for Human Survival", and in December 1989 her initiative received front-page coverage in the Russian newspaper "Pravda".
Exhibitions for the World Silence have been displayed in many places. Exhibits include a large blue globe, lighting up the earth's 36 time-zones, prepared by students of Birdwood High School, SA. An historic "Book of letters" written to Mary by leading world figures, accompanies the globe. Notable exhibitions were in Parliament House, Canberra (1990) and Jerusalem (1991).
A soundscape "Footsteps", composed to celebrate the World Silence, was commissioned in 1991. Ros Bandt included sounds from around the world in her composition, which has been broadcast on many radio stations globally each January 1st.
Supporters of 3 Minutes World Silence include:
Mary has created visual representation of the 3 Minutes World Silence in her woven tapestries.
Four of these tapestries comprise a travelling exhibition entitled "THE ELEVENTH HOUR" Mary has created images to prepare us for the 21st century. Accompanied by her husband, Peter Stapleton, Mary plans to travel with these tapestries to different countries during 1999 and 2000.
The exhibition was launched in the Adelaide Library, South Australia, in April, 1999.
1. The Healing of the nations
Designed and woven by Mary Cassini 1990-1992
Size:
1.5m x 87cm (5ft high x 34in wide)
Weft: Wool & Silk.
Warp: Linen
This tapestry features a Gate of Jerusalem, decorated with the Twelve Fruits of the Tree of Life, which is in the centre of the Gate. The Fruits symbolise the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Through the Gateway may be seen outlines of churches of different religions and, lower on the right, the globe of the earth - translucent green and blue - mingles with fallen leaves. The hands of a clock-tower stand at the eleventh hour.
In 1993 this work was hung in the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, during sensitive talks between the three leaders of Former Yugoslavia. The UN felt that the tapestry and its message gave valuable input to these talks. It was also hung in the World Council of Churches HQ and was featured on Jordanian Television.
2. REMEMBER
Designed and woven by Mary Cassini 1997-1999
Size: 1.82m x 1.25m (6ft x 4 ft)
Weft: Wool & silk. Warp: Linen
This tapestry depicts the Ark of the Covenant and the two stone tablests abandoned in the desert, with Mount Sinai in the background.
Only the words "Thou shalt not kill" and "Love" remain.
As the sun sets on the 20th Century, Mary hopes this tapestry will be hung in theatres of conflict to remind those fighting of the futility of their actions.
The word "REMEMBER", woven across the base of the tapestry, echoes Mary's words for the World Silence - "for every one of us to remember the future."
More tapestries by Mary Cassini
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since
11 November 1996
Last revised 4 Aug 99