Since the dawn of time, man has gazed at the sky, captivated by its beauty and mysteries. We feel a deep connection with the universe, as if it were part of our very existence. In this sense, art has often served as a bridge between the human intellect and the cosmos, a means, in the eyes of the observer, to seek answers and give shape to our desire for understanding.

The artist Jerry Carter represents one of the highest expressions of that profound dialogue between art and the cosmos. The Mysterion of the Cosmos, a triptych of fused stone reliefs and transparent enamels, is an extraordinary example of this inner search. The evocative power of this work was recognized with the prestigious Lorenzo di Medici Award at the Florence Biennale.

Another impactful work is the Pyramid of Souls, installed at the World Trade Center International Monument. This monument was conceived to honor the over 3,000 victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, becoming a symbol of memory and rebirth. A creative work that earned Carter numerous recognitions, including those from NASA, UNESCO, and the European Parliament, testifying to the depth and originality of his vision of life.

Another significant contribution by Carter was his work at the Arcetri Observatory in 2004, where the artist created installations that intertwine art and science, transforming the observation of the sky into an aesthetic and spiritual experience. His art goes beyond merely representing the cosmos; it explores and interprets it, inviting the observer to feel part of it.

Artists and astronomers are united by the fact that both seek answers in the sky. And the answers they receive inevitably bring with them other questions. Galileo spent many nights on the hills of Arcetri, with the moon seeming so close that it could be touched, wondering whether its seas were still or in motion, merely shadows or liquids…”

Among his most famous creations is Second Genesis, a monument to peace located in the Peace Park of Ravenna.

Second Genesis is not just a work of art: it is a call for coexistence and harmony, an invitation to overcome divisions and focus on safeguarding life on Earth.”

Set in a green area of the city, the Peace Park of Ravenna is the result of the collective vision of artists and cultural promoters who transformed a public space into a place of hope and dialogue. With Second Genesis and the other monuments that enrich it, the park has become a powerful symbol of universal peace. Here, the bond between the Earth and the cosmos becomes tangible, reminding us that our destiny is intimately intertwined with that of the universe. This space is an invitation to reconciliation and remembrance, a testimony to shared beauty that, uniting art and nature, promotes a message of harmony among peoples and mutual respect.

The idea emerged in the 1980s when the city of Ravenna and several cultural associations began imagining a place that would celebrate peace through art. The project took shape thanks to the collaboration between Italian and international artists, who contributed their works to create a path of reflection and beauty. The park was inaugurated in 1983, during the Cold War, and since then it has been enriched with new installations, which have further expanded its meaning and symbolic value.

Among the key figures who contributed to the creation of the Peace Park is Jerry Carter, an American artist capable of transforming tension and pain into beauty. His powerful style and deeply human message reflect the desire to build bridges between divided worlds in an era marked by deep geopolitical fractures.

When the artwork took shape, the Cold War was intensifying dangerously. It was 1983: NATO had begun installing the first nuclear missiles in Europe, prompting a strong reaction from the Soviet Union, which deployed medium-range missiles in Warsaw Pact countries. This military escalation triggered a wave of protests across Western Europe, strengthening the pacifist movement that opposed the arms race and the threat of nuclear war, and Carter was one of them.

Born in California in the 1950s, Carter began his career exploring the connection between man and nature, developing a style that blends figurative and abstract elements with a strong emotional charge. His works address complex themes — conflict, suffering, and reconciliation — transforming them into powerful images full of meaning.

As Carter himself recounts, when he was selected as the American artist to create a peace mosaic in the Park, he noticed that no Soviet artist was included in the list of participants. Aware of the delicate historical moment, he decided to act:

I am convinced that the Peace Park in Ravenna played a role in reducing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. When I was chosen to create a peace mosaic in 1983, during the Cold War, I was disheartened to see that no Russian artist had been invited. Living in Washington, D.C., in the ‘nuclear crosshairs’ of the Soviet Union, I assure you, I felt the weight of the situation. So, I wrote several letters to the park organizers, urging them to include a Soviet artist. I also contacted the Moscow Artists Association, inviting them to participate.

To my great satisfaction, they accepted the invitation and sent Alexandre Khournakhov, which made me very happy. Later, in 1990, the association gave me the opportunity to hold a show at their MARS Gallery in Moscow. This event sealed the role of the Peace Park as a catalyst for dialogue and understanding between different cultures. Many things happened from there. As you can see, peace truly radiated from that park.”

Today, Carter can be fully regarded as a universal messenger of peace. His artistic message remains the same as it was then: peace is a dynamic process, never static, that requires constant attention and effort. His art is rooted in the reflection on the human condition and our place in the universe. Carter is fascinated by the idea that humanity lives on a fragile rocky crust of an insignificant planet, immersed in the vastness of space, feelings he expresses in his work:

My works speak about life in space. The idea that we live on the thin, rocky crust of an insignificant molten planet. We breathe a mixture of gases that condenses on that hot crust. The fact that we live in such a place is an alien and frightening concept.”

His art, in fact, reflects this sense of precariousness and cosmic mystery, so much so that some astrophysicists have noticed details and insights in his works that the public often doesn’t immediately perceive. Carter has invited observers to go beyond the surface of his pieces, exploring the deeper meaning hidden in the shapes and colors.

The artistic and cultural legacy of the Peace Park in Ravenna is of fundamental importance. It is not just an open-air gallery but a place of meeting and meditation. The path through the artworks invites visitors to slow down, listen to the silence, and allow themselves to be moved by the emotions evoked by the installations. The presence of Jerry Carter and Alexandre Khournakhov is a powerful testament to how art and culture can transform into instruments of peace, overcoming boundaries and political tensions.

Today, the Peace Park continues to convey a universal message of reconciliation and coexistence, a statement of trust in humanity’s ability to build bridges between peoples through art and beauty.

Notes

Jerry Carter.
The Peace Park.