Page 323 - YGARTUA: Magnum Opus - volume three

The project was confirmed and the idea diplomats, the executives, actors like Danny

was presented to the United Nations at Kaye, personalities who were involved with

The Vancouver, Expo 86 site. It fitted in the Children of the World Project.

perfectly with the theme of the UN (Paul was

already renowned for his celebrated mural in Paul donated his time to the UN mural

Chemainus of the Natives) as the theme for and the seven weeks that it took to create

Expo 86 was the International Year of Peace his masterpiece “A World United”. The

and the UN theme was World Harmony. most rewarding part of all of this was the

So, when we presented them with the large extraordinary experience of working directly

mock-up triptych, the bank bought the mock- with the Credit Union, the UNICEF and the

up that day and then the idea of reproductions, UN staff, all on a daily level, an invaluable

posters and postcards were part of our life-learning experience.

presentation which then would also involve

UNICEF, who was in charge of the site of for All five races were represented –our children

the United Nations, and that was the beginning Tala Nicole & Anton Francisco Ygartua

of a six month non-stop workload, from represented the white race in their Basque

delivering, using couriers for most deliveries, outfits, the oldest ethnic group in Europe.

to get to the site with the posters, etc. and the Paul is above doing final touches to Tala

limited editions that ended up in all the Credit Nicole (our daughter) wearing the Basque

Unions across BC. headscarf that she wore at the Basque Fiestas

during 1985 (the year we resided in the Basque

“A World United” was everywhere, the posters, Country). Anton and Tala went to pre-school

and postcards flooded Vancouver and the during the week and on the weekend took

demand was insatiable and the publicity, the Basque Dancing. The summer of 1985

interviews, etc. were interminable. The endless they participated in the local Fiestas as part

special events whereby the Limited Edition of the Gorliz Basque Dance Group. Anton

of “A World United” was be gifted to many is represented on the other side of the mural

dignitaries including the President of the wearing the Basque Beret, next to the Black

UN from New York, and to all the officials, Man, portrait from New Orleans.

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