Check out A Leap for Peace here: http://leap4kids.org/collection/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&i...

Leap Artist Angela Baker recently partnered with Sunnyside Elementary School to create the Peace Wall, a permanent ceramic tile mural on the school playground. Every student, faculty and staff member participated in the Peace Wall project by creating a tile to express their wishes for peace in the world. The project was inspired by the work of Bay Area artist, activist and author Carolyna Marks, founder of the Worldwide Wall for Peace and author of Creativity in the Lion's Den.

The Peace Wall is a vibrant, colorful array of images representing the concept of peace from the diverse and varied perspective of more than 250 individuals who participated in its creation. Composed of mandalas, portraits of family members, scenes of students breaking up fights, and symbols of friendship and unity, the Peace Wall beautifies the playground, instills a sense of pride in the students, and functions as a permanent legacy of their creative work in collaborating with a Leap Artist. It also serves as a potent source of inspiration to the students of Sunnyside: that they have the power to be the peacemakers who will create positive change in the world.

The project was made possible by the collaborative efforts of many people in the community. Tiles and project supplies were donated by TileShop, a local tile supply store, the kiln firing was donated by Ruby's Clay studio, and during the summer of 2009, several PTA members at Sunnyside with construction and tile-setting experience donated their time and supplies to install the mural.

A Leap for Peace was directed, produced and edited by Barry Walton of BTV Productions, who also created "Castles to Classes," a documentary film chronicling Leap's 2008 Sandcastle Contest and residency programs in Bay Area schools.

About Leap:
Since 1979, Leap has provided Bay Area schools with hands-on, high quality and collaborative programs that meet the needs of students and teachers. Leap's residency programs place professional teaching artists and architects into local schools to enhance the classroom curriculum through creative projects in architecture, dance, creative writing, music, theatre, video production and visual art.

For more information, call 415-512-1899 or email info [at] leap4kids [dot] org. Film footage and program information can be found at: www.leap4kids.org

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