In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word. On September 21 Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic School in Brentwood, Missouri took part in an International art and literacy project, Pinwheels for Peace, by “planting” pinwheels with messages of peace near the entrance to the school.
Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, of Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. The first Pinwheels for Peace were installed on Sept. 21, 2005. Since then this effort has grown from 500,000 pinwheels planted the first year to 4 million pinwheels in 2016. Locally, Mrs. Audrey McCormick, our Art teacher, coordinated the Pinwheels for Peace project this year.
This project is non-political – peace doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with the conflict of war, it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, to peace of mind. To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: “a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people.”
Saint Mary Magdalen Kindergarten through 8th Grade students created pinwheels. As part of the creation process, the students wrote their thoughts about “war and peace / tolerance / living in harmony with others” on one side. On the other side, they made illustrations, to visually express their feelings.
The students assembled these pinwheels and on International Day of Peace they “planted” their pinwheels as a public statement and art exhibit/installation. After planting the pinwheels, Mrs. Kathy Wiseman, school principal, prayed that love and peace be spread through our city and our world. Keep a lookout for the pinwheels – the spinning of the pinwheels in the wind will spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country and the world!
For more information, go to http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.
Nice job Ms. Audrey and SMMS!
We need more positivity in our lives.
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