4 months until the international day of peace ...

mjd - 2015 - morning mantra

as the moon sets

and the sun rises

may i begin my day

awake.

may i move

through each moment

mindfully

lightly

and with clarity.

a heart bursting 

with love,

a mind 

propped open,

may i shine 

to lessen 

the darkness

of 

another being's 

suffering. 

------

i know your work and words are infused with peace - 

we'd love to share it.

a ripple in new jersey

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

the international day of peace has arrived. 

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

woven flags represent

connection to all

fragile strength

and the importance of remaining open. 

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

gently ringing chimes bring us back to the moment. 

woven peace flags with brass chimes - mjd 2013

and thich nhat hanh reminds us:

'the miracle is not to walk on water. the miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.'

peace is a choice,

live it.

peace beyond dates

As Mary Jane wrote in her latest entry, the project for Peace is 'never - ever - over'. The 21 of September is a symbol, not a limit or a compulsory formality. So I hope you won't mind my posting the flags for peace created by our Spanish group 'Roots' today, on the 23rd. They set them flying on Friday, 21 September in the morning and I only got the photographs yesterday.

This is the Medieval stone bridge leading to the Town Hall of Valderrobres, where our ten flags are flying now and till the end of October.

As you can see, hanging the flags required some climbing skills! The intrepid Lilianne Cantó went up the ladder to hang her installation, an Earth globe made from barbed wire with branches of olive tree inside and a foam pigeon holding an olive branch in its beak.

The rest of the flags awaited their turn on the stone floor of La Lonja.

And then everyone got busy...

And the flags came alive...

Birgit Ploessner is a German painter who recently moved to Spain. Her lively blue flag is her first collaboration with our Group.

There is a poem written in German on her flag. I am really sorry that I cannot translate it.

Jordi Ferrer's flag installation depicts the contrast between the opposing forces of Peace and Conflict, symbolized by the white/blue and dark red colours.

Jordi is a graffiti artist, a video artist and a photographer. He was also the one who took these shots and our thanks go out to him through this blog too.

Ángel Vilamajó painted his flag on canvas and he didn't go about it the easy way!

The difference in styles and media speaks of a cheerful, bright dedication to the idea of Peace.

Jordi's dog. Not an artist but sooo peaceful!

Esther Hofmann is a Swiss painter who chose to live in this part of Spain with her husband. Isn't this coexistence of people with different nationalities a sign of peace in itself?

My own flag among the others.

 Silvia Sanmiquel's letter installation. It says 'peace is freedom'.

Francesca Payera's flag with the word 'PAU' on the background. 'Pau' is Catalan for Peace.
Ángel Vilamajó and Francesa Payeras run the beautiful 'Mas Marianets', a country
house and art centre that I blogged about here.

Ana Carreras' deliberately naïve flag, a world of joy and colour.

And the completed installation.

The Medieval building of the Town Hall relates Peace to History, our cultural backgrounds, the passage of time and what we all learn from it.

first flag from Spain

I have been posting from Spain as a member of a group of artists called 'Roots'. However, the first Flag I can show you here was not made by a member of our group at all but by Montse Romagosa, a jewelry designer gone sculptor from Barcelona (230 kms from here). The beautiful photographs were taken by Àlvar Caixal.

Montse visits the area regularly, she has a house here in Beceite, and she liked the idea of the 2012 Project from the very beginning. She is a member of another group of artists called Land Art Associació Catalunya.

So her first contribution to the Flags for Peace Project is placed on the ground, on a piece of land. This piece of sculpture is not very large or heavy and she means to hang it in a public place for 21 September. I'd love it to be near the ten flags of our Group.

The piece is titled 'Peace and Freedom' and it is made with recycled materials, mainly iron and rope. The iron grid represents Freedom.

The same figure placed in a different location. I'm not sure where (I forgot to ask!) but the surroundings look a lot like anywhere around here.

'Peace and Freedom' resting on rows of roof tiles made of clay. I think it's a 'she'. What do you think?

P.S. Mary Jane, I thought this work would appeal to you, I hope it does!

Peace across the oceans

I have been thinking a lot about how this little idea, this little seed has been planted and has spread across the world so effortlessly and so willingly. It seems wonderful to me that the interweb allows us to connect, find kindred spirits and best of all share. And peace is a wonderful thing to share.

A mention here, a comment there, a blog post over there... and the word is spread and others join in and show their support for peace.

My mind is wandering across all sorts of options for my flags, but I am thinking paper so it slowly disappears in the weather, as it faces rain and sun and wind and fog and dew.

I'd love to hear what others are thinking and doing. I know Lesley has put her recent indigo dyeing to great use already and so the flags across the world begin.

Ripples from Maleny

Peace - found in ordinary things

As Fiona indicated in her recent post a few folk in Maleny Australia (Ken, Noela, Fiona and I) have taken up the invite of Mary Jane on this blog to create ripples for peace; and of course also create flags to mark International Peace day on 21 September 2012.

At this stage we have a few things in the pipeline including:

• inviting many more local artists to create peace flags, in whatever medium moves them, and fly them for the week of 17 September 2012 and particular the 21 September;
• share the flag planning, thinking, 'vibing', rippling and making process on this blog if they want to join as contributors;
• photograph the flags flying on 21 September so they might be included in some photographic peace promotion effort-medium;
• see if we can involve children who use our local library in the creation of a peace wall installation at the library; and 
• maybe hold a display in the library promoting peace in the week of peace week.

Peace Rainbow - between light and darkness

In our enthusiasm we thought that we might be able to involve the local quilt makers in the creation a large 3X2m peace wall quilt; alas they are fully committed this year; but are open to the idea for 2013. We also thought we could have a Peace Day in the park with various activities including the gathering of flags; making of button; and ringing of bells. Again - a plan for 2013.

This project has brought peace more into our collective consciousness and thus provides the opportunity to create some gentle peace ripples which we can only hope becomes a wave.