Jan B. (USA/The Netherlands):
Persons from different races and religions all sharing one planet.
John R. (USA):
Since what you are trying to portray is simply being fully ourselves it is hard to come up with an image of simple beingness... therefore, I'd be inclined to choose an abstract image, or perhaps something from nature... like the Tree of Responsibility.
Patricia L. (USA):
A star that represents our true selves - ideas - grow your light.
John C. (USA):
Sorry. I have a visual disability. Any image would need to embrace the concept of Frankl's idea that we all have a responsibility at every moment to create a reality from an almost infinite number of possibilities.
Steve S. (USA):
I see images of people moving or working with purpose. I see images of people refusing handouts in preference of working out on their own. I see an image of somebody standing at the wheel of their own "ship," perhaps a very small one, or many people, all captaining their own ships, but all sailing together in one direction.
Melynda (USA):
I don't have any thoughts on this at this time.
Peter J. (USA):
The image that we are humans as stewards in a planet we inherited, in a universe we were granted trust within. The planet is ours to be responsible toward, and our freedom is constrained by our being part of nature. Natural images, living in harmony with nature, the cosmos, and the Tao.
Oguchi N. (USA - Biafra/south-eastern Nigeria):
Arcs connecting all the Statues of Responsibility.
Chris K. (USA):
I need to give that some more thought. I think the sculpture captures some of it. The challenge is in creating something that represents the infinite possibility of each person's soul.
Sally G. (USA):
To really make this a global venture that people get excited about, the project at best would go out to artists all over the country and the world to have them submit concepts. As an artist myself... I'd suggest maybe a pyramid of all sorts and types, each standing on each others shoulders and even that isn't too creative. I bet there's a great idea out there, if you put out a call for entries to all the art schools, high schools, colleges and universities, opening this great idea that has been started to a diverse and inclusive group of artists.
Colleen (Canada):
Freedom is responsibility.
Michael M. (USA):
no comment
Bill V. (USA):
A couple of things:
1. I like movement. I also think nature offers us the best answers. As one example the way a school of fish can move quickly as a large group, to me, signifies how we need to be as a nation and as a world. A video wall with fast changing fish, to me would be a positive symbol of why we as a people need to vote, take responsibility for the world around us and make the right things happen faster.
2. Our world, global warming and the increase in threatened or extinct species show we are not being the stewards we need to be for "Nature first". We need a symbol of our global responsibility to preserve nature, to keep it healthy. The solution can be a sculpture that shows nature and mankind as one. The message that the two are inseparable has to be clear. We also have to show that nature and man need to respect each others space. I like motion and the idea of a sculpture that holds all of this together but within, all of what it is holding can be portrayed. That suggests integration of a shape and video content.
Stewart L. (USA):
Something that demonstrates the duality of connection and individuality, separate, but a part of and responsible to the whole, agreement or charter... I recently authored a "Resolutionary Pledge" that may have value.
William G. (USA):
Interlocking circles to promote the idea of collaboration as a principle of decision making and governmental process. The United Way symbol is one of clasping hands... should be included in this garden as it is a great example of individuals working together in an organized fashion to help others; individual responsibility being exercised to promote societal good.
anonymous:
Not sure.
anonymous:
I get a notion that within a multicultural society such as ours the visuals and metaphors will differ (of course there MAY be a "universal image" but I expect it would be dog tired (a soaring eagle)... I suggest regional or sub-culture representations of these concepts...
Manash (Hong Kong):
Refer to my response to question 5: I personally felt a photograph of someone about to jump out to a Bungee or a sky dive represents responsibility vs freedom in a very apt way.
Karel (South Africa):
I realise that one does not want to personalise the visuals, but it may be something to consider to have statutes/sculptures of specific individuals who embody the principles of freedom and responsibility. Nelson Mandela springs to mind.
Heinrich (Switzerland):
Martin Buber has deeply influenced Viktor Frankl. Buber stated that "I" is formed by the interaction with "YOU". "I" and "YOU" are mirrors of each other - it's an infinte process of mirroring, of an exchange and finally we earn what we do i.e. what we sow. A landscape of mirrors and echoes and pictures, photographs, sculptures, narratives etc. symbolizing the existential link between "I" an "YOU" would be a very interesting way to deal with the themes "freedom", "liberty" and "responsibility". This is valid for individuals, institutions, countries, nations, people etc. etc.