The 40th anniversary of World Peace Day (September 21, 2021) will coincide with the launch of a traveling art exhibit aimed at spreading equality, unity, peace, and love, and understanding of diverse cultures worldwide. Artist Daniel Anderson’s “Share the Love” XO sculptures will be unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony in New York City at 1 World Trade Center and Oculus World Trade. The two monumental sculptures are XO World and XO Play.
The XO WORLD sculpture is 12 foot in height and 24 feet long, weighing 20,000 pounds. It is inspired by the game of jacks, which is played by many cultures worldwide and dates back to approximately 2000 years ago. The “X” is illustrated by the “Jack” with crossed arms attached to the spoke, representing LOVE in universal sign language. The “O” in the “XO” is represented by the globe. The XO WORLD will be installed in front of One World Trade Center at 285 Fulton Street.
“I am excited to showcase these sculptures in New York City, the epicenter of the world, and encourage people of all ages to share the love,” added Anderson. “My inspiration for these sculptures came from children and their open acceptance of others. A child’s mind and heart are free of prejudice regardless of race, gender, or religion, which is how we should all strive to emulate.”
The XO Play is a sculpture of multi-racial children engaged in the game of jacks. This is reminiscent of our childhood’s innocent and harmonious co-existence with friends and effortless ability to make new friends. XO Play will be installed in The Oculus at Church Street/WTC/Westfield Mall next to the 911 Memorial.
The combination of the outdoor XO World sculpture and the indoor XO Play sculpture is intended to ignite a global “Share the Love” movement embracing equality, unity, peace, and love bringing people together for future generations. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on September 21 at 3:00 PM in New York City at 1 World Trade Center, the cultural epicenter of the world.
“As our society faces unprecedented challenges stemming from a global pandemic, economic recovery, racial inequity, and territorial conflicts, World Peace Day offers the perfect backdrop to unveil these two inspiring sculptures intended to bring people together,” said Anderson.
“We are proud to partner with XO World Project to bring public art back to the World Trade Center,” said Jonathan (Jody) Durst, President of The Durst Organization. “We hope Daniel Anderson’s message of unity and peace will inspire everyone who sees XO World.”
Daniel Anderson: Share the Love sculptures XO World and XO Play was unveiled on World Peace Day, September 21, 2021, with a ribbon cutting on September 21st at 3:00pm at One World Trade Center, and 4:00pm inside the Oculus World Trade. The Ribbon Cutting included the artist, along with representatives from the Durst Organization, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Westfield, as well as children from Operation International Kids and Boys & Girls Clubs of NYC will be in attendance. Visitors will find XO World at 1 World Trade Center’s West Plaza; XO Play will be located within the World Trade Center Oculus.
XO World will be on view on the One World Trade Center Plaza through June 2023.
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While you’re there, take a walk around the Oculus and view The Mural Project.