Kåre Willoch

Dear Catrine Gangstø

Here comes a much too late, but nevertheless heartfelt, thank you for a lovely letter from you, and to the greatest extent for the delayed “Everything changes the whole time”. I am impressed with everything you have accomplished, and believe that the use and development of children’s artistic talents are important both for the children themselves and for everyone who gets to see the results of their efforts. We must both hope and believe that such work can also contribute to understanding across political, religious and other cultural borders.

With my best wishes for the work, and

Yours sincerely Kåre Willoch

220px-Kåre_Willoch_Official_Portrait

Her kommer en altfor sen, men likevel hjertelig takk for et hyggelig brev fra deg, og i høyeste grad for heftet "Alt forandrer seg hele tiden". Jeg er imponert over alt du har fått til, og tror at bruk og utvikling av barns kunstneriske talenter er viktig både for vedkommende barn selv, og for alle som får se resultatene av deres bestrebelser. Vi må jo både håpe og tro at slikt arbeid også kan medvirke til forståelse på tvers av politiske, religiøse og andre kulturelle grenser.

Med mine beste ønsker for innsatsen, og

Vennlig hilsen

Kåre Willoch

Exhibition at the Nansen School

I have had the pleasure of following Catrine Gangstøs art project ‘Peacepainting’ he last three years, where children from different religious backgrounds come together and unfold with color and drawings. Through a wordless language the children express feelings and thoughts that can not be expressed otherwise. We find that coping occurs, and that hate turns to hope. I am deeply moved and impressed by the work Catrine Gangstø does, which has also gained national attention. It is original, it's professional and educational well-founded - and that means a lot for the kids who are lucky enough to participate. Perhaps her work also makes the world a better place to live. I sincerely hope that Catrine Gangstø can continue her work - for the good of us all.
Inge Eidsvåg, Lillehammer, Norway 13 January 2011

Gunnar Danbolt, Professor Emeretius at the University of Bergen

Gunnar Danbolt inspired the concept in the Spring 2008. He recommended us to contact the St Olav Festival.

"I have had the opportunity to study at close range Catrine Gangstø's Project ‘Peacepainting’ and I am very impressed with what she has achieved. Encouraging children to draw and paint, is in itself not particularly difficult, but the result is rarely interesting.

So I must admit that I had not great expectations when I first went to see these drawings. But I was surprised, very surprised, because these children, who Catrine Gangstø had taught, showed both the form and terms of coloristic maturity that was likely to surprise, while they also had a message to convey. There was no doubt that the images were made ​​by children, but they had acquired some experience that enabled them to exploit the limitations of what the not yet fully developed motor abilities had set for them.

In short - Catrine Gangstø had taught them a visual style that made it possible for them to express their thoughts and feelings. When she today has created a larger project to run a peace-building work across borders, I can only warmly recommend it. This is a project that deserves all possible support, because it is the children who represent our future.”

Sincerely, Gunnar Danbolt"