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Adopt an Olive Tree in Bethlehem the Holy Land
Introduction Project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land is a project initiated by the Bethlehem Bible Artists, with the aim of encouraging people (individuals, churches, groups, etc.) to look at the Olive Trees in the Holy Land and the places where they belong in new ways. The project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ intends to actively engage with the people who participate in the project in order to support the olive tree farmers and olive wood carvers in Bethlehem and receiving either unique art pieces, carved out of the wood from the olive trees in Bethlehem in the Holy Land or raw olive wood for those who would like to make their own arts out of Bethlehem olive wood. The project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ is also encouraging people with a diverse range of experiences to become involved in some way – people such as artists, designers, scientists, students, technologists, environmental planners, land- and tree-careers, educators, etc. It is hoped that through their involvement in the project it will be possible to raise an awareness of the stories, the symbolisms and the cultural meanings invested in the Olive Trees in the Holy Land – the artwork of the Bethlehem Bible Artists and the situation in Bethlehem, Holy Land, Jesus' place of Birth! The project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ aims also to focus some attention upon the diversity of the cultural realities all this represents. Through people's collective participation in the project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ our hopes are, that we all may come to better understand of the Olive Trees in the Holy Land and such things as:
The issues and stories that belong to this trees, and especially so in the context of peacemaking in Bethlehem, the place of birth of Jesus Christ. The project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ is particularly interested in telling the stories attached to this unique and special trees and identifying the Bethlehem Bible Artist information along with the political and economical baggage this trees carry. Some of the stories will appear quite ordinary at first, and other times the stories may seem just too mundane to be worth the retelling. Although, when such very simple stories are thought about in their cultural context they somehow seem to acquire a kind of freshness. And, their significance is often transformed in some way especially when the stories connect us with the awareness of Bethlehem, Holy Land and the Christian situation unknown to many of us. The project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ hopes that the participants in this project will watch over the places that are marked by this unique and special tree –the tree they adopt in the place of Jesus Christ’s birth. It is assumed that either the trees themselves or the places they mark will be places with stories that are in some way special for those who watch over them. If they are not already so, then over time adopted trees may well grow into significant peace-markers in the imagination of the project's participants. In the imagination of those who participate in this project many people may well be adopting 'their Olive Tree in the Holy Land' for a range of reasons. There are symbolisms that may apply to project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ in much same way as they did to the wonderful place of birth of Jesus Christ, the place it evolved from. It is envisaged project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ will evolve over time. And, that it will not only be relevant to an olive tree, but also that it will be a vehicle that will enable remote Bethlehem, Holy Land, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and the Christian people who live there, many of them Bethlehem Bible Artists, or work wise related, to become connected in some way. The project should provide new ways in which people can collectively watch over Bethlehem, Jesus Christ’s place of Birth, and the stories linked to the places where the Olive Tree’s grow, or perhaps once grew, or possibly might even grow given that it is given the chance to do so. An understanding of the project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ may well change if it is known that people is watching over Bethlehem, the place of Jesus Christ’s birth and the Christians living there, many of them Bethlehem Bible Artists. Imagine that you are a caring private individual, a Christian church, a politician, or an organization for …, or an ‘Bethlehem Bible Art’ lover. You may well come to see it differently if you were to discover its stories and that it is being watched over. You might even look for solutions to problems that otherwise you might not wish to acknowledge or possibly, you may be simply drawn into sharing and celebrating a place's stories. Trees often mark places that are loaded with intimate stories or mark places – strange places, extraordinary places, quiet places – that simply capture our imagination. Trees may carry their own stories, and they can also be the anchor points for the meanings attached to places, or they may be markers for places that have some special significance. And Bethlehem in the Holy Land is a unique, and very special place for all Christians; it’s the place of birth of Jesus Christ. To have our attention focused on this so special and unique place may be welcomed by some, or seen by others as some kind of impertinent intrusion in their world. Yet without celebrating this place, and having our attention drawn to the stories, we are ever likely to disregard the myriad of ways to imagine a place in our careless haste to exploit them, or even just to leave 'our' mark upon the world someplace! Project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ has been designed to be responded to in a variety of ways. However, the notion of 'Cultural Jamming' has never been too far away. While some people may find this somewhat worrying, the project need not be responded to in the context of cultural jamming. Project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ was mindful of the fact that within different cultural contexts people will want to respond to the project in different ways. Indeed, one of the project's objectives is to look at the ways various cultural imperatives will influence people's responses to the project and what that may tell us all about trees and their stories, place and stories, cultural difference and story telling. Project ‘Adopt an Olive Tree in the Holy Land’ may alert us that in turn we may well change the way we see (read!) Bethlehem and the Holy Land. In a quiet way, it may equip us to be more art- and history literate, to look at Bethlehem in the Holy Land differently, and to see the places Jesus Christ walked where they belong in new ways– to see the world anew. And, in time this may enable us to see more and more, rather than less and less, in the world. If you or any one you know might be interested in getting involved in this project please fell free to contact us
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