Artistic Paradigms for Interconnectedness / Flute Soundscapes & Clay Equity 

“[A] mind bending proponent of modern soundscapes. Her approach is flawless, sensitive, and puts the listener in the middle of unique and often visual experiences…“ – Zim Tarro, Cadence Magazine, USA (2023)

“I view both life and art as layers of texture and color.”- Janine Sopp

Music & Visuals as an Act of Peace: Contemporary contemplative music created and performed by flutist/composer, Yael Acher “KAT” Modiano’s electro-acoustic solo Flute or with urban jazz ensemble in dialogue with screenings/projections and exhibition of works by Janine Sopp, Brooklyn-based ceramic artist, and owner of ClaySpace ceramic center. The program concludes with an interactive conversation with the audience, led by peace dialogue thinkers such as Dr Youssef Mahmoud, a former UN Peace officer, and currently Senior Advisor at the International Peace Institute.

This Palestinian-Israeli multidisciplinary artistic collaboration unites music and visual art as a foundation for a peaceful, creative and prosperous co-existence.

Olive Tees’ Peaceful Ritual premiered with the support of 2025 UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant at Inwood Library, New York Public Library in December 2025.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT:

Our multidisciplinary artistic project is rooted in radical hope; creating a new paradigm through the arts that respond to and acknowledge the suffering, victimization, dehumanization, and marginalization of people on all sides of war zones globally. We recognize the need for reconciliation and re-building mutual trust between people to allow for true peace and constructive co-existence to happen.

As people / artists coming from conflicting national backgrounds, our Palestinian – Israeli artistic collaboration is a pacifist action represents an inclusive, creative co-existence between peoples/nations.

As a universal symbol of peace and reconciliation, olive trees are often being burnt down in times of conflicts to purposefully hurt the people whose olive trees are livelihood and meaningful cultural heritage. In this project we imagine olive trees as ancient, wise, unconditionally loving spirits. While they dance a peaceful ritual, they embrace and heal humanity and all beings.

Through artistic means: Flute & Electronics with an urban jazz ensemble, Ceramics, Screening, and Spoken words, and interactive conversation with the audience, we look to weave together layers of aesthetics’ expressions to create a transformative healing space for both audiences and artists. Taking the audience beyond differences and discriminations can allow for an inner and collective engaging experience to resonate within people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Janine Sopp’s diversified, unique ceramic architectural pieces respond to the current mass destruction in Gaza, while her other pieces represent Judaic themes. Both embody an unearthing of ancient symbolism and depth.

Yael Acher “KAT” Modiano‘s solo and rhythmic ensemble with image -collage video screening resonates through associative aesthetics with multiple cultures; critical approach to inequality and suppression blending with the beauty of cultural expressions, urban and nature environments, etc.

Combining compositional and improvisational audio with visual elements is meant to provide an immersive experience that blurs the differences between performer and audience. The spoken words and screenings reflect human conditions while responding to the sound and the visuals and vice versa. The dynamics between all the artistic elements changes constantly between harmonious and disharmonious expressions.

We value audience participation and inclusion. Our multi-generational audiences are invited to share visions/dreams/thoughts about a better world on paper notes that are collected in on of Janine Sopp’s special ceramic jars  (see in media). Concluding the event, we invite special Peace thinkers to lead a conversation about peace with the participants; sharing contemplations, epistemologies, thoughts, emotions, personal and collective experiences, and more.

Audience’s Notes at the event (December 20, 2025)

• Harmony as unity in diversity
  • I visualize a world where children feel deeply connected to nature and themselves

• “This is a gem called a diamond, and this is another gem.” Hunter, age 6

• Humanity longs for Humanity

• Thank you!! for an extraordinary, entirely necessary peace ritual today. The amazing music, the conversation…As you noted – to be continued, indeed…The absence of greed. The presence of well-being, joy, …

• My vision for the future involves people listening to one another, deeply. Really listening. Listening and trying to understand where the other is coming from, what their true intentions are and what about them is similar to us, what about them makes us feel we are, in some way, looking at our reflection.

• Devotion – inspires Bravery. Bravery – inspires Sacrifice. Sacrifice – leads to death. by – becoming Pirate King

• Shalom Salaam pise. Branches connected. Unity/Humanity

• I would love to see a world where love and equality live. A world where there is no hunger, no war, no genocide. A world where the rich, ultra-rich, and mega-rich are not allowed to hoard their wealth – while others starve. A world where oppression doesn’t reign. I hate to see our people in pain. 

• Peace

• No child is hungry or fearful

• A life of dignity + flourishing for all human beings. Equal rights for all, everywhere, always.

• I want to live in a world where Disability Justice is centered. I want a world where we have clean air, a healthy planet, one where children aren’t bombed and can live happy healthy lives. I want a world where my family + friends don’t feel like they need to remove themselves from the world. Where they don’t die from lack of care. I want peace + humanity.

• Peace comes from vulnerability.