SAN DIEGO, CA.- James Hubbell, prolific artist and humanitarian known for his organic architecture, mosaic work and sculptures, will lead a team of 30 international architecture and art students in Kaohsiung, Taiwan from July 13 until August 10 in the creation of the seventh Pacific Rim Park.

“A pearl is created from irritation and pressure, which turns into something beautiful – that is the same sentiment shared by the Pacific Rim Park,” explains Hubbell. “The creation and mission of the Pacific Rim Park is to understand divergent countries mutual connection to the Pacific Ocean, which holds us all together, yet honoring our inherent differences. The act of making something together, such as the Pacific Rim Park, strengthens our connections as friends, instead of culturally different communities.

This park installation will be the seventh build for Hubbell since the Pacific Rim Park’s mission began in 1994. Architect Kyle Bergman, Pacific Rim Park’s Executive Director, will also lead the group in their cultural research, understanding and creative vision. The four-week design and build process will connect over 30 participants from eight different countries with a shared goal, allowing them to see past cultural and political differences and work together toward compassion, understanding and acceptance as expressed through building a public space of beauty and intent.

The Pacific Rim Park project was created to connect people from across the Pacific by collective portals, overlooking the largest body of water on Earth that unites everyone and provides a sense of equality, even among the most divergent of nations. The parks themselves cast a string of pearls across the rim of the Pacific countries. Park locations include Vladivistok, Russia (1994), San Diego, Calif. USA (1998), Yantai, China (2001), Baja California, Mexico (2004) and Puerto Princesa, Philippines (2009), and Jeju Island, Korea (2011).

“Each and every park build is connected to the water, open to the public and has an artistic pearl element. We are creating a string of pearls, encompassing the Pacific Rim” said Bergman. “Pacific Rim Park has a dream of eventually creating a portal in all 41 countries that surround the Pacific Ocean, and just maybe changing the myth of the Pacific from a ‘ring of fire’ to a ‘string of pearls.’ “

Each country’s Pacific Rim Park is designed to complement the cultural aesthetics, using local sustainable materials and design elements reflective of the individual heritage and history of each location.

As the mosaics are placed, bonds are made and just like the concrete that is poured, relationships are formed. In fact, during the 2001 Yantai, China trip Tijuana-born Cristobal Gonzalez and Russia-native Evgeniya Nikolaevna Golik fell in love, writing letters back and forth for months, before having an opportunity to both move to San Diego to be together. Twelve years later, the couple has the Pacific Rim Park project to thank for their deep bond, love, marriage and new one-year-old daughter.