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Guemes UCC invites island to create peace art

Guemes Community Church UCC is working on a year-long, participatory “Peace Pole Project,” asking families, groups and artists to make peace poles on the island for constant visual reminders of peacemaking, said Bob Anderson.  

Robert Anderson organizes peace art project.

There have also been some peace education events.  

The church is providing poles, resources and financial help to any artist that requests it. It has a short resource sheet to recruit peace pole makers.

The project kicked off with a labyrinth celebration the evening of Sept. 21, the United Nations’ World Peace Day and the Equinox.  The celebration included readings, luminarias, candles and torches, and a soup supper to give out peace pole suggestions.  ##? signed up.

It continues into the spring of 2019.

Bob said the island project seeks to promote peace through awareness, art projects and action.

Peace Poles made by Island artists, families and organizations are to be placed in public spaces and private roadsides, “drawing on Island creativity and as a continuing future reminder to work together for peace, in ourselves, our community and in the world, said Bob, who is coordinating logistics. Gary Rainwater is helping with materials, placement and construction advice.

The church is providing some funding for materials peace pole makers need.

Bob said the hope is to inspire peacemaking, to support current and future activists to engage in local and wider community peacemaking.

“The church is one catalyst, and all Islanders and organizations are invited to initiate actions,” Bob said.

Peace pole makers are starting with four-by-four or larger pressure treated poles six to eight feet tall.  The bottom two feet are treated to be buried in the ground and the upper four to six feet are to be creatively designed with peace-related words or images.

“Other options include banners, plaques, panels, rocks, birdhouses, mobiles or chimes,” said Bob.

Traditional peace poles often are simply white with the words in black.

Options for words include “peace on earth,” “grow in peace,” “find peace within,” “believe in peace,” “work for peace,” “do everything peacefully,” or “life is a peaceful garden.”

Often the same phrase is on different faces of the pole in different languages.

“Simplicity in words and images is recommended so poles can be quickly read by passers-by,” Bob said.

Dedication of the peace poles and peace art will be at Spring Equinox, Memorial Day or Summer Solstice events.

“We are ‘locavores’ and this project is all about Islanders inspiring and supporting each other and the local economy,” said Bob. 

For information, call 360-293-3770; earthspiritcircle@earthlink.net.

 

Pacific NW United Church News - Copyright © January-March 2019

 

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