Expressions of Peace

Expressions of Peace is an exhibit that allows students the opportunity to explore ideas of peace as they relate to the trauma, violence, and oppression that is an unfortunate reality for many people in our city. What does peace look like in a neighborhood that sees regular gun violence? What does inner peace feel like after experiencing trauma? How can we address the incessant violence in our everyday visual culture, from the news to social media to video games?

Fourth-grade students at KIPP Ascend Primary worked to represent the violence our city experienced from January to May 2016 with an installation of 1,280 origami pinwheels and 212 ceramic tiles. The pinwheels represent the number of victims of gun violence during this period, and the 212 tiles indicate those whose lives were taken.

Students also created watercolor paintings, illustrating a metaphor for peace. A large wire loom on the wall invited people to write messages of hope and peace on a ribbon and weave them into the structure.

We hope this exhibit offers a tangible illustration of the humanity behind the numbers we so frequently hear about but often cannot digest. We hope to provide a space for reflection. We also seek to promote hope and conversation toward action and real change.