Installing peace pieces

 

Each year Fiona and I try to mark International Peace Day by installing peace weathergrams (Fiona) and peace doves (Barry) in a tree or such near our home. This year we will be in Scotland on 21 September so we installed 7 weather grams and seven peace doves in the magnolia tree out the front of our townhouse; and we will install another seven weather grams and doves at the cottage in Scotland tho mark the actual date. 

The opening photo is of Fiona installing one of her weather-grams - "peace by piece". The following some images of the installed weather-grams and peace doves.

Below is a photo of some fragments of weather grams from years past.

May we pause frequently to imagine peace and work for peace.

Imagine peace

 

Fiona and I installed a few peace weather grams and peace doves at the cottage in recognition of International Day of Peace today 21/9/22; and to send a few peace vibes out into the world.

We both noted that one of the places we chose to install the weather grams and doves was on a barbed wire fence - we thought this reflected the fact the fact that so many people in the world are held captive by violence, discrimination and inequality.

Fiona installing peace bits.

A few more images of the weather grams and peace doves.

Hoping that peace finds its way into the lives of those currently ravaged by war and held captive by violence, discrimination and inequality.

Wee messages for peace

 

Fiona and I will be in Scotland on International Peace Day (21 September)  - so we will be installing peace weather grams and copper peace doves at the Armadale cottage.

But we wanted to have a peace connection between our home in Maleny and the cottage so we installed 7 peace weather grams and 7 copper peace doves in the magnolia tree out the front of our Maleny home. The opening photo a beautifully patinated copper peace dove hanging in the tree.

Below are a couple of photos of Fiona and I hanging weather grams and doves.

A few of the weather grams and doves in place.

May these small material tokens and our thoughts send a few peace vibes out into the globe - may there be a little more peace and a little less war and violence.

Peace and leaves

 

Another mixed weekend - I worked in Deckled Edge Press printing peace pocket posters; and in the workshop progressing leaves with words.

The photo above shows the three peace pocket posters I printed - advanced preparation for International Day of Peace. In all I printed 210 pocket posters  - 21 to fit in with the date of IDoP in September - and 70 of each so that there are enough to send out into the world. I checked out the IDoP website - the theme this year is build peace against racism - and we can do this by building equality - we can never have too much equality. I have chosen blue on blue to create a calm and peaceful look to the pocket posters. I loved the lusciousness of the colour mixing process.

I have managed to: fold all the 140 stamped leaf blanks; marked them up for cutting; and cut the earring pieces - and even unfolded and ground one pair (see last photo). 

The rest of the leaves will be cut, ground and polished over the next week. I'm always a bit surprised how long production can take - but then again I have set myself the task of doing 140 word leaves.

Peace - may there be many moments of peace

 

It is International Day of Peace today (21/9/21) - may we all share and receive many small moments of peace - not just today but every day.

Installing peace weathergrams and peace 'doves' in what will become our peace tree - magnolia out the front of our new home

Some weathergrams and doves in place.

Another photo of peace buttons.

A lovely experience this morning - we took peace buttons to our local coffee shop - they were accepted by staff, some folk we knew and some total strangers - a few more peace ripples.

Love (hearts) and peace

 

I have finished grinding and polishing some of the metal heart forms that I cast whilst testing the metal melting furnace. Fiona oversaw a number of pourings.  The hearts are cast from melted silver-plated metal clippings I keep aside when cutting up salvaged metal. I keep the silver-plated brass and silver-plated copper separate. Gorgeous textured brass heart above - this heart has about 1% silver content.

The copper heart below has a silver sheen because it also has about 1% silver content.

I have poured a couple of solid silver hearts including the one below; but as they are solid silver they are more expensive. This silver heart is for sale here.

The four together looks gorgeous. I particularly like the unique texture on the top surface of each heart - created as the metal cools.

I have been asked to make some peace buttons for sale through our Deckled Edge Press site. Our peace buttons have been made in preparation for International Peace Day on 21 September.

Fiona and I chose 6 designs of original art works; and I made a stash over the weekend. I love the 3D look of some of the images on the buttons - particularly the "imagine peace" and "believe peace" buttons.

The covid lockdown did provide the opportunity to get some things done.

Poetry and peace

 

I have started working my way through Kate Clanchy's book How to Grow your own Poem. I would like to be able to write and print my own poems - I attempted this with my poem In This Time.

The ideas to spend an hour a week doing the exercises Kate sets out whilst sitting in a local coffee shop with Fiona working on her stuff.

The exercise included randomly selecting nouns and definitions - so I was using 16 small pieces of paper to help with this. And then I transcribed the nouns and definitions into my poem - still to be tidied up.

Fiona and I have begun our process of creating pieces for International Peace Day on 21 September. One of the things this year is to make peace button.

Of course there are a few casualties.

But there will be a good selection to go out into the world.