The Swords Into Plowshare Peace Gallery in Detroit just finished a show called "Speak Peace" that featured American voices responding to Vietnamese children's paintings of peace and war. The image on today's blog post is from the promotional card that announced the show.
Co-sponsored by the Veterans for Peace, Chapter 74, Detroit Area, the show ran from November 19 through December 17 this year. It is worth noting that U.S. troops finally pulled out of Iraq during the time frame of this gallery show.
The singers and guitarist in this painting by a thirteen year old Vietnamese youth gather around one table under an umbrella decorated with the flags of many countries. You can hear soft tunes floating through blue skies, thanks to the musical notes that the artist painted.
The Peace Gallery is one place that receives my check every year. Located across from Grand Circus Park on East Adams, Swords Into Plowshares is next to Central United Methodist Church and very close to Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers. The juxtaposition of a peace gallery and a baseball stadium is one of those happenstances of urban life.
Having two beautiful nieces whose homeland is Vietnam caused me admire this youthful expression of world peace. I also admire and affirm the work of Swords Into Plowshare which stands as testament to the goodness of those who pray and work for peace, not only in Detroit and the United States, but in places like Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan and Washington.
One of my wishes for 2012 is less war and more peace. Then more people can enjoy things like peace galleries and baseball games and kids singing for peace under umbrellas everywhere.
Credits: Painting titled "Singing for Peace Among the Peoples"
By Le huu Duc Duy, Viet Nam, Age 13
Swords Into Plowshare Peace Gallery
33 East Adams Avenue
Detroit, Mi 48226
313-963-7575
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