4/4/2008
Church art exhibit seeks to further gospel values, peace
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| Church art exhibit seeks to further gospel values, peace |
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Mary Ryan-Hotchkiss
An art exhibit at St. Pius X Parish aimed to further the gospel values of peace and non-violence.
More than 40 artists participated in the 2008 Search For Peace Art Exhibit at the parish community center, held close to the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war. The purpose of Search For Peace is to encourage everyone — especially parents, teachers and children — to think and talk about the topic, inspired by original works of art.
In conjunction with the exhibit, counselor Joe Mitchell presented a seminar on non-violent communication. Parish functions were coordinated to allow hundreds of people to attend the exhibit.
On their entry forms, artists state how their work relates to searching for peace. The statements were collected and distributed to all attendees.
The Beaverton suburban Catholic vicariate Peace and Justice group toured the exhibit and selected one statement for special recognition. “This art work portrays the mystery of the search, and the commonalties of the search for light and peace,” Lynne Taylor wrote of her work titled “Searching For The Light.” “We are of many different religious and nonreligious philosophies, and many different origins. Many believe with great faith, others do not. Yet, we all search. Instead of being divided over how and where we search, we should begin to simply understand that we all do search, and the search can be harmonious, rather than divisive. For it is why we search that brings us together. Overall, we search for the same thing: enlightenment and peace.”
Attendees at the exhibit were involved by voting for the People’s Choice artwork. Many also placed colored adhesive notes on artworks they found moving, with messages for the artists, such as “Cool,” “Nice thought,” “Beautiful,” “We can all light the light of Peace.”
The People’s Choice winners received Search For Peace medals engraved with their names. The winners are, in the category under 10 years, Clare Kennedy for the crayon drawing “Peace and Love is Everywhere”; for 10 to 13 Years, Cory Meyer for the acrylic collage “Flight”; and for 14 to 18 Years, Heather Lynn Riley for the poem “Peace.” A white marble bust by Joni Mitchell, “Calling on Angels,” won the People’s Choice in the adult category. Joni dedicated the sculpture to her brother, the Rev. Scott Mitchell. Her statement explained that she sculpted it while mourning his tragic death.
Many artworks from Leslie Lukosh’s art classes at Holy Redeemer Area School were exhibited at St. Pius X after being shown at the Children’s Peace Fair at St. Andrew Parish. Winners of the People’s Choice vote at the Children’s Peace Fair were: under 10 years Aydia Johnson for “Let There Be Peace on Earth” a crayon drawing and words, tied with Priya Boucher-Colbert for “Peace is the Sun” a decorated poem; 10 to 13 year olds, Anand Boucher-Colbert for his “Vine and Tree Growing From Fallen Tree,” an oil pastel. These children received engraved Search For Peace medals. Every artist at both exhibits received a gold peacemaker ribbon and a certificate recognizing their participation.
The exhibit theme at St. Pius was “Peace in our Hearts, Peace in our Families, Peace in the World.” Some artworks highlighted places in turmoil. Peggy Bird displayed a dramatic fused glass “Praying For Peace in Jerusalem.” Children’s drawings from Gaza were provided by psychologist Marlene Eid, along with her interviews of the children.
One parishioner noted shock at the statement by a boy from Gaza: “‘When I grow up I want to be a freedom fighter.’ How will this madness ever stop? He’s seen fighting all his life,” she said.
Upon viewing art work by Iraqi child refugees in Jordan, Joan Sheridan of St. Pius said, “They are stuck. They can’t get out of Jordan and they can’t go home to Iraq.” Marcia Petty quoted Tacitus from Roman times: “We make a wilderness and call it peace.” Another artist said, “I believe the USA causes more harm than peace…through war.” Erica Maggi said of her large canvas “Stalin At The Sarong Party,” “In a peaceful universe, dictators would only reign supreme over dance floors at the disco.”
Many artists chose religious and family themes. Kris Steven from St. Pius painted a picture of Mother Teresa and quoted her: “The fruit of service is Peace.” Children showed pictures of love, friendship, and nature, and had insightful statements: “Don’t fight. Share your pizza,” and “Peace is caring for your neighbor.”
Most artists who exhibited were from the Portland area, but many artworks were entered electronically from other areas. Art works originated in Tanzania, the West Bank of Palestine, Gaza, Jordan, Iraq, Germany, California, Washington, and in Oregon, from Portland, Coos Bay, and Salem. An inmate on death row in Salem mailed a poem. He had seen the announcement of the exhibit in the Sentinel.
Several groups participated in the exhibit. Students in religious education classes and in St. Pius School took part by decorating the links in a paper peace chain that was used to decorate the edge of the exhibit space. The Friday evening Lenten soup supper attendees added links to the peace chain and toured the exhibit. Those taking part in a “Called and Gifted” workshop at the bustling parish toured the exhibit during their breaks, and reflected on the gift of peace.
At a reception for artists, parishioner Carol Sontag played peace songs on the hammer dulcimer and poet Joe Schrader read his entertaining poems, including, “Make Time For Peace.” On Sunday morning after Masses, many enjoyed coffee and doughnuts then toured the exhibit while children enjoyed art and craft projects like making peace doves.
A wide range of media was represented besides painting and drawing. A beaded necklace, a rock inscribed with a poem, plaque, painted glass, poems, prose, a miniature book with peace quotes, ceramics from Franciscan Sister Phyllis Morris and a ceramic vase depicting “Love nourishing the Tree of Justice producing the fruit of Peace.”
Several of the exhibitors have their own peace projects. Liz Cohn showed her photos at The Body Peace Project www.thebodypeaceproject.com (parental discretion advised).
Jeffrey Tiner wrote that he has dedicated the rest of his life on death row to campaigning for peace in the Sudan through the Bahkita Project, see www.sainteds.com. Iraqi Refugees requested help through: www.Zahrairaq.org and www.saverefugees.org
Art from the 2008 Search For Peace will join the art work from the 2006 and 2007 exhibits at the web site www.searchforpeaceart.org
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