DAYTON, Ohio — As Spectrum News 1 continues coverage of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session, we are focusing on the people of Sarajevo and how important moments in history have shaped their lives.

We spoke with one artist from Sarajevo who shares her passion for peace across the world and in Dayton. 

“Like an inch toward you…” said Edina Seleskovic as her piece called “Think Freedom” was installed at the Dayton Arcade.

The art piece began in Sarajevo in 2015. 

“In between those two cities, it has traveled to over 25 different cities in Europe and around the world,” Seleskovic said.

In every host city, she asks young people to write messages on the sculptures.

“It’s really an answer to the question I keep asking “what does freedom mean to you?,” she said.

More than 30 years ago, Seleskovic was an exchange student in the United States.

“My parents let me finish my senior year of high school in the United States. Unfortunately this was 1991 and when I was ready to return, in June of 1992, the war in Bosnia broke out. So had no choice, I had to stay,” she said.

It was in that moment that everything changed.

“In that sort of impossible moment of losing everything that I had, I was actually able to reinvent myself and to really pursue a life long dream that I almost didn’t even dare to dream, which was to be an artist,” she sad.

By the time she returned to Bosnia…

“I realized that culture can bring people together, she said. "It can inspire public dialogue. It can make us think about our every day life from a different perspective."

For local art students helping out, it’s an opportunity they’ll never forget.

“I’m learning from Edina and how she’s doing this and if I ever want to do anything like this or help out with something like this I’m already going to know more about what I’m doing,” said student volunteer Alexis McCormick. 

“Really incredible to see behind the scenes and all the work that goes into making such an incredible sculpture come to life,” said student volunteer Whitney Johnston.

The city of Dayton watched it come to life and take in the messages of peace.

“To be here on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, I think it’s this beautiful connection," Seleskovic said. "It’s a great reminder that Bosnia has kept peace for 30 years despite all the difficulties it’s going through and all the tragedies it’s gone through."

Here are some photos from the NATO PA in Dayton: