International Day of Peace 2024

 

There is no doubt at all that in so many places and so many corners of the globe we need peace. On 21 September once again we pause for peace - on International Day of Peace we can send vibes out that maybe we can give peace a chance.

This afternoon in preparation for tomorrow Fiona and I installed our peace doves and peace weather grams on the fence and in the plum tree beside our cottage in Scotland. Before we left our Maleny home we installed doves and weathergrams - giving peace a chance at our two homes.

In the opening photo and following are a few images of the peace weather grams and peace doves. At the cottage some of the doves and weather grams are installed on barbed wire - we think the barbed wire symbolises war and unjust and illegal imprisionment.

Tomorrow morning Fiona and I will pause by the fence and tree and consciously send vibes of peace to wherever they are needed - may peace have a chance.

Love, peace and feminism

 

Though I was in the workshop today progressing a few small pieces for the Vessel exhibition I thought today I would share a few photos of our pop up letterpress shop at the Communities in Control Conference in Melbourne. 

This year we decided to take some of the posters and cards that represented our main themes of work over the last 12 months. As it turns out they included: war and peace; equality and feminism; and love and kindness for oneself and others. 

Anyway a few images of our setting up and what we had on sale.

Love, peace and feminism are good themes to have I think.

For friends

 

For many there was a great sigh of relief when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were inaugurated without violence; and graciously offered hope and anew way to many.

I knew I wanted to print something to mark the day and to be able to offer them to friends; and so these micro-posters (aka postcards) rolled off one of DEP's presses. I started with words picked up from friends' messages as you see below; and then picked out the words that would act as shorthand for the statements.

As you see below the posters took on many shades of colour; but the colour that they were printed in is strong purple. Purple for suffragettes; purple for Kamala's coat; purple for the equal place of women in society; and purple for ............ 

And there was even a bit of metal dusting on a few!!!!

Because one does not want to waste ink in the end I printed some paper scraps from the cutting bench so that individual words were also captured.

We can breathe again; we can hope; and we will persist.

Joy, hope and peace

 

A wee blog with photos from our early morning walk. Sending thoughts and vibes out into the ether. May folk find moments of joy, hope and peace at this time and in the time ahead.

A sign of hope - a pair of mudlarks were working swiftly to build a new mud nest.

This small installation of Fiona's says it all - peace and a heart for love - a little rusty and a bit frayed but still holding on.

Go well and be safe.

Mini peace bowl; or a pendant; or a keyring piece

©2019 Barry Smith -  Shallow bowl forms on the rust table

I managed to form all the peace pieces into shallow bowls. Then it was over to the grinding-polishing bench to take the rough edges off; and bring out the beauty of the silver-plate by polishing with a fine steel wire wheel.

©2019 Barry Smith - Stacks of ground and polished pieces on the polishing bench

I just love the afternoon sun and the play of light and shadows on the pieces on the rust table.

©2019 Barry Smith - Stacks of polished peace pieces on the rust table

©2019 Barry Smith - Looks like a gathering of highly reflective peace pieces

©2019 Barry Smith - Looking across the 63 peace pieces

The pieces are now ready for International Peace Day.

©2019 Barry Smith - As you can see with the small hole the peace piece can be used as a small bowl; or a pendant or a tag on a key ring

©2019 Barry Smith - Slightly different design - only a few of these

Pieces for peace - but first....

©2019 Barry Smith - A piece for peace stamped and formed into the bowl shape - plus rust

I have made a start on the pieces I'm making for giving away to promote International Peace Day on 21 September 2019.

But the process was interrupted by a call for small book earring that contain the words peace and love. So these were made and delivered to Compassion Artists' Book Exhibition.

©2019 Barry Smith - A pairs of love and peace books for earrings

©2019 Barry Smith - Love and peace book earrings - plus rust

So the process of making my pieces could continue after completing the earrings - process photos follow.

©2019 Barry Smith - Stamping the peace and flower symbols (bit of my inner hippy appearing?) on the square blanks of silver-plated brass - cut from an old large round serving tray. Very large copper hammer is good for stamping peace symbols 

©2019 Barry Smith - Just nice symmetry

©2019 Barry Smith - Sixty-three pieces of metal stamped

Hopefully over the weekend I will form the stamped pieces into the square bowl shapes  and give them a grind and polish. This all takes time when one is making 63 pieces.

Fragments for a fragile world

The world needs more people like Mo who dreams of love - love for a peace and unity. Fiona and I were so fortunate to be able to travel to the opening of the installation-exhibition - "I dream of a world where love is the answer."

So many people from so many worlds contributed their love energy to Mo's gathering of love for a broken world - such a brilliant installation - such beautiful energy - thanks Mo.

A few fragments from an overwhelming installation of stories, people and love follow.

If you want to check out the catalogue go here.