Paul Bartlett Ré

Artist, Writer, Poet, Peace Worker

“I received the notice of your show and thought the drawing on the front to be very nice. If you are passing through this area and have any of your other work with you I would be interested in seeing it. Luck to you.”

-Georgia O’Keeffe from a letter to Paul Ré

Paul Ré is best known for his book The Dance Of The Pencil: Serene Art by Paul Ré, his widely shown traveling exhibit of Touchable Art for the Blind and Sighted, and most recently for the Paul Bartlett Ré Peace Prize administered by the University of New Mexico Foundation. This has been endowed to operate in perpetuity and extends his five decades of work promoting harmony in the world through art. Beyond the joy of creating the art itself, Paul's greatest reward is when people are moved by his work towards peace and fulfillment. Ré's latest volume, Art, Peace and Transcendence: Réograms that Elevate and Unite, is now available from UNM Press. It has received the 2016 New Mexico – Arizona Book Award for Philosophy and the 2019 Independent Press Award for Distinguished Favorite in Fine Arts.

Paul Ré (pronounced Ray) was born in 1950 in Albuquerque, NM where he still resides. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in physics with honors (fifth in class) from Caltech in 1972; this has served him well as an artist expressing the beauty of science. Paul has been acclaimed by art critics as "a virtuoso of the pencil" for his art of "quiet greatness and noble simplicity." In 13 states, he has had 22 solo exhibits including those at the UNM Jonson Gallery, Albuquerque Museum, Triangle Gallery, Wichita Museum, Sumter Gallery, J. B. Speed Museum, the Colorado Springs Museum and the Karpeles Museum. His traveling exhibition of Touchable Art for the Blind and Sighted has been shown 18 times in North America. A documentary film on his Touchable Art was produced by SCETV in 1990 and a companion book was created. He is now making a second tactile exhibit, Inspired By Nature, which is dedicated to environmental conservation. In 1993, his monograph The Dance With The Pencil: Serene Art by Paul Ré was published. The Journal of the Print World reviewed it as "one of the outstanding art books of the year." His writings and art appear in Leonardo 13-2, 14-2 and 15-2, The Journal of Visual Impairment, New America, Spirit (7 covers and poems), La Mamelle and Design Journal. Significant articles about his work are included in Contemporary Graphic Artists III, Spirit Of Enterprise: The 1990 Rolex Awards and other reference volumes. His art has been highly regarded by artists Georgia O’keeffe, Raymond Jonson, and Ed Garman; Nobel Laureates Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Richard Feynman, and Roger Sperry plus a diversity of individuals. Also an accomplished guitarist, poet and humorist he is editing his collected poems The Iris Ballet and compiling his 52 volumes of aphorisms and micro–essays into The Recycled Dictionary. He greatly enjoys walking and meditating in nature.

2022 Winner of the Paul Ré Peace Prize:

 

Kathy Powers, Ph.D.

Nationally renowned scholar for her work on some of the most pressing issues facing us globally. As an Associate Professor in the UNM Department of Political Science and Affiliated Faculty in the UNM School of Law, Powers’ research focuses on the design of international institutions and law with respect to human rights, restorative justice, trade, and war. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work on reparations within the Black Community and post-WWII reparations and transitional justice including a research fellowship from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Powers is the voice that provides informed and hopeful insights for how we can collectively imagine a better and more just community for all. Her résumé includes Wilson Center Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Washington, D.C. and External Faculty Member, Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Powers is receiving this award for her extensive work in human rights and restorative justice.

 

2022 Lifetime Achievement Awardees:

 

Farhan Wilayat Butt

UNM correspondence student, philanthropist, and social activist. Wilayat Butt has founded several water-relief projects throughout Pakistan resulting in more than 400 water wells. These projects have received numerous awards and honors from local and international organizations. Mr. Wilayat Butt also promotes awareness about interfaith peace and harmony in Pakistan through peace tours, interviews, and theater performances. Farhan Wilayat Butt is receiving this award for the Sindh Water Relief Project.

Ken Carpenter, Ph.D.

Retired UNM Director of International Programs and Adjunct Faculty, activist, educator, and author, has a lifelong commitment to nonviolence both abroad and in the United States. Carpenter has taught courses in international studies, peace and justice studies, human rights, and security studies, and created the UNM Community Safety and Human Security Program which prepares students for public service. Dr. Carpenter is receiving this award for his contributions to peace and environmental activism.

Youn Ja Johnson-Blanchard

UNM English Faculty. Johnson is a 3D artist, writer and educator of peace who has brought people together teaching them an appreciation for our common humanity and spirituality. Her work fuses East and West in the themes of peace, power of nature, the common ground of humanity and the overlap of religious traditions. Her collections are in the Republic of Korea, and the US, including “Tribute to Mother Earth” at UNM, Albuquerque Museum Collections, and Murphy Veteran’s Hospital in NM. Johnson-Blanchard is receiving this award for her art installations relating to peace.

Sandra Wasko-Flood

UNM Taos art student, poet, and educator. Wasko-Flood is the founder of the national nonprofit organization, “Living Labyrinths for Peace, Inc.” Using art as a tool for social changes, Wasko-Flood inspires healing and transformation within and among people through labyrinth building and education in schools and communities nationwide. Her teaching welcomes all nationalities and races to come together creating harmony and world peace. Wasko-Flood is receiving this award for Living Labyrinths for Peace.

2022 Career Achievement Awardee:

 

Ramiro Jordan, Ph.D.

UNM Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Dean of Engineering for International Programs is a scientist, innovator, educator, and entrepreneur who has championed equity, transparency, and peace throughout his career. Dr. Jordan utilizes Peace Engineering (PEng) - application of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math principles), sustainable practices, cultural sensitivity, and innovation - to promote and support peace globally. He has received numerous national and international Honors and Awards and has given over 100 Keynote presentations. Ramiro Jordan is receiving this award for his contributions to Peace Engineering.

 

2022 Emerging Promoter of Peace Awardee:

 

Reilly White, Ph.D.

UNM Assistant Dean of Teaching and Learning, Associate Professor of Finance, Anderson School of Management. Dr. White is an educator, media commentator, and leads a team of current and former Anderson students which provide financial literacy education and mentorship to immigrants and refugees from disparate backgrounds. Dr. White’s team teaches financial literacy and workforce development to individuals to help them succeed in their new home and created a free 76-page Financial Literacy Handbook, translated into Spanish, Arabic, and Pashto. Reilly White is receiving this award for his contributions to supporting immigrant and refugee populations.

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