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September 2011 marked the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Together with the Akira Yoshizawa Museum-Theatre of Origami, the Charles B. Wang Center hold the Peace Tree 9/11 Memorial festival in Stony Brook, New York. This memorial commemorates peace as a response to the tragedy of 9/11.

We would like to create a community that responds to terrorism with expressive and artistic dialog about peace, solidarity, and social justice. Inspired by the origami cranes that were made by ordinary people in commemoration of those who perished in 9/11, and by the cranes made by Sadako Sasaki as she suffered leukemia in the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, this memorial encourages reflection on non-violent responses that go beyond ethnic and sectarian differences. Perhaps in creating a paper sculpture while meditating on that tragedy, we can imagine a humane community; perhaps in the thoughtful creation of an object of beauty, we can help assuage the suffering caused by destructive, violent acts. Submitted pieces are a source of inspiration for the spirit of philanthropy, mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity, and pluralism.

The Origami Peace Tree Memorial was organized by the Charles B. Wang Center, and by Alex and Larisa Levashov of the Akira Yoshizawa Museum-Theatre of Origami. The memorial appeared at the Charles B. Wang Center from September 7-15, 2011.