Artists books for peace

In conjunction with flying Flags for Peace around our town and at our homes, a few of us have put together a small display of artists' books based around peace, which is being hosted by our wonderful local Library here in Maleny.

We took some less than wonderful shots the other day, but we did want to share them here (even tho I have posted most of this over at my own blog as well.)


This is Noela's book, and here are her words:

Peace book

My book represents the notion that life has become so complex with dark layers of ‘stuff’ forever present.

The high tide mark in the ink indicates that enough is enough. It’s time to look beyond the distractions, however enticing, and to rise above the craziness to a peaceful, quiet, empty space where we can be replenished and renewed.

The mountains on the front cover are a serendipitous addition that appeared as the ink was settling – a wonderful metaphor for me because I truly need mountains in my life to achieve a peaceful state of mind.

Next is my book and my words...

Languages of Peace

This book is filled with love and hopes for peace.  I have written the word for peace in 25 languages, and embossed peace doves on every page. 

I chose a language for each letter of the alphabet (although I found no language that starts with the letter “O”) and wrote the word for peace in that language using my own heartbeat script.  I have chosen the softest and clearest of blues and white to suggest peace.

It is wonderful to discover that so many languages have words for peace, that the notion and idea of peace transcends cultures, and that peace is an aspiration shared by people across the globe.

This book reminds me that we all know of peace, and that many of us seek it. 

Continuing on, here is Barry's book and his words...

Sacred Peace Texts

This artist book aims to make links between the hope and prayers for peace on the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2012 and the peace and stillness of ancient temples – places of peace. The book is in the form of a sacred temple scroll.

The book has four metal pages each stamped with a different hopes or prayers:

·      IMAGINE PEACE

·      LET PEACE BE THE WAY WE ACHIEVE PEACE

·      PEACE IS EVERY STEP

·      MAY OUR WORDS BRING PEACE

The words are adaptations from public peace quotes.

In the main Sacred Peace Texts is made from recycled and found materials. The main body of the scroll was a small brass pump; the decorative ends came from old brass lights; and the pages are brass off cuts.  

And finally we come to Ken's two pieces and his words..

He opened a box…

Peace begins with a smile

These sculptures use a combination of recycled timber, rusted metal and hand-made paper. All materials have had a previous life, have been discarded, rescued and then re-worked on a theme to create a piece of recycled history.

Inspiration for He opened a box … comes from the complexity and the drabness of war and Peace begins with a smile …( words of Mother Teresa ) … reflect the joy and happiness of peace.

My sculptures reflect an on-going fascination with life, death and rebirth and an interest in the traces of past existences. Starting with a pile of un-related materials and slowly working them into an artwork that can be read like a book. The idea of evolution frequently runs through my work as I explore the craft of assemblage.

Peace flags weather-grams again...

I have taken some photos today of the new flags I wrote, and of them hanging in the tree.

I did another 10 today - when I went to hang them it looked as if maybe two had already blown off (we have had some serious wind the past few days) so I am just replacing them and letting them continue to drift and be.

The messages of peace - to take action in different ways - is a nice reminder for me. Perhaps we CAN smile peace or live peace or seek peace or breathe peace. Perhaps peace can be in every action we take...

And a few shots from the other afternoon when the light was different...

I am really looking forward to adding to them over the next two weeks, and then photographing and sharing them again on 21 September.  The tree will be more spring-like by then, buds and leaves will be bursting forth, and maybe peace will be as well...

Weather-gram peace flags

I have gone around the block a few times with my ideas for outdoor peace flags and ended up with a simple, yet honest approach.

I have chosen to do weather-grams, a flag approach with a calligraphic history. Weather-grams were created by Lloyd Reynolds, a calligrapher in Portland, OR in the 1920s. They are usually a small quote or verse written on brown paper and hung in trees to weather.

I searched out lots of peace quotes, but in the end decided I would simply 'verb' peace. I came up with heaps of verbs to be used and repeated, so I have Imagine peace. Be peace. Create peace, and so on...

I have hung the first batch in a tree at the top of our driveway and they are certainly getting blown about in the strong breezes we have had the past few days. Still, they are hanging in there and their message remains peace.

 I took a very short video of them the other afternoon...

Dedication

Martha's hamsa representing protection, healing, strength and love.

 I've only just decided to take part in this project.

Two fellow artists encouraged me to jump in: Jennifer Coyne Qudeen and Ersi Marina.

A third artist, Martha Hill, was my inspiration.

Martha and I were friends for ten years. We spent those years working together supporting the work of other artists by exhibiting their work.

She continued to inspire me as I watched her battle first esophageal and then lung cancer. She fought with a quiet grace, always putting others at ease, always having a sense of humor.

On August 24th she passed away.

I feel honored to have had her as a friend and enjoyed our many talks about art and family.

While she was going through many rounds of chemo, I would send her little gifts from my heart. One gift was a special hamsa I designed to protect her and heal her with strength and love.

I've decided to dedicate my prayer flags to my dear friend. I am using her hamsa design as the centerpiece of my flags. I like the idea of them waving in the breeze spreading their message of peace. I'd like to think that Martha will be looking down on them on September 21...maybe with a little smile!

Julie B. Booth

Tracing the hamsa design.

Transferring the design to the Speedy Carve block.

Carving the block.

The finished block.

Adhesive craft foam block to be used as the background.

Sample designs for the flags.

The concept of Peace is never as simple as it sounds. For before any sort of communion or peace is achieved, most of the time sacrifices of some sort would have already been made. In Honor Of was created to remind us of such sacrifices, and to remember those who have fallen so that others/we may live in Peace.
 

When I first began making this piece, I knew I wanted a sort of shrine so that I may immortalize “Peace”. I proceeded to search for an old Treaty of Peace on the net and found one which dated back to 1783. Then somehow I had to find a way to highlight the word ‘Peace’ on the treaty. I chose to frame it through an old key mounted on a clay tablet. The heart symbol has always called out to me, but in this case, it screamed to be included.  

The elements came together quite naturally and the piece was finally completed. But what I did not expect was the overwhelming poignancy that hit me when I looked at it as a completed piece. What begin as a shrine to immortalize “Peace”, suddenly looks to me, more and more like a memorial. Even the shape of the key reminded me of a cross. 
 

On a lighter note, it never fails to amaze me how the artwork can take a life of its own in the midst of the process, turning the artist into a mere doer of its fancy.  

When In Honor of was created to remember those who have made that sacrifice so that others may live in peace, Declaration of Peace was a natural extension of the aftermath of this sacrifice.
 

The repurpose copper fashioned into a time capsule holding a rusted pen nib symbolizes “written peace” (like in Peace Treaties). A pair of wing findings, old gears and a heart make the other part of the piece. They represent an environment that I frequently associate with Peace … Freedom. 

I realize that these aren't "flags" technically, but I am hoping perhaps when one day someone picks them up and "fly" them close to their hearts, might these pieces then not be symbolically, "flags" ? and thus become wearable symbols of Peace.

weaving my way to a flag

Hello again from Spain. I am delighted to announce that Autumn seems to be finally here. After four consecutive heat waves in a month and a half - and two previous ones starting in June - the temperatures have gone down, we had some delightful and much needed rain, and I was able to start working on my flag.

After hazily considering and discarding different projects and ideas - a rope ladder included - I decided to use fabrics for my flag. And I started out be weaving a small piece on a toy loom I've had since I was a child. This small piece of fabric only measures 18 x 22 cms (7.2 x 8.8 inches) and it was my first attempt at weaving in decades! I used a three-strand macramé cord, separating the strands and weaving them one by one. My toy loom can weave up to a length of 1,5 mts though (about 5 feet) and my next piece will be quite longer.

I will sew the woven pieces to cotton fabrics and work on the whole. The flag will reveal itself to me in the process, so I don't have the definitive idea in my head yet. That's my usual way of creating, I start a project and let it guide me along. I follow its wishes.

My flag must be finished by 10 September, along with the flags of the other ten participants from the Group 'Roots', so I will soon show you more work. My own and that of the other artists.

Have a lovely week and enjoy the change of season, whatever it may be!

open your heart....

Thank you for the reminder, Mary Jane.

You nudged me to work on the peace flags...

September 21 will be here soon!

I'm recycling windbreaker jackets from a second hand store....such nice, light fabric.

"The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. 

The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace."

-Carlos Santana

-Lela