Theses days, it seems we could all use a bit more peace and love. Not only on the home front--for our family and ourselves, but also on a much bigger level--for our neighbors, our communities, and all the other little corners of this planet that we live on. It seems we especially could use more peace and love for people who are not like us, or who look different than us, or who do not believe the same things as us. This desire for peace and love has been historically striven for in various cultures throughout the world and throughout the ages. But unfortunately, it has not often been very successful. We continue to wage violence and war and hate and bias against others, often without any cause. Yet it seems, the want of a peaceful and loving existence with each other is always in the background of human life, lying in hopeful wait. Often, this has been reflected in creative ways, like through songs, music, literature, poetry, and also through art In the arts world, peace and love have been shown in many ways--through paintings, photography, sculpture and more. Love itself, has often been represented by the simple symbol of the heart, even as far back as ancient times. Below, you can see a few artistic examples of the heart shape in various mediums, and from various centuries.
Gold and Faience Heart-Shaped Pendant, India, 300-100 BCE.
Master of the Chronique scandaleuse, “Miniature of Two Women Trying to Catch Flying Hearts in a Net” (detail), ca. 1500.
Artist unknown. Brooch from the Fishpool Hoard, 1400-1464
In more recent years, the peace sign(after it was invented originally as a symbol representing nuclear disarmament), has also often been used in artworks.
Gerald Holtom, British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament,1958
Below, you can see some more recent examples of paintings and sculptures created by famous artists using the symbols representing both peace and love.
Peace Doves, Peter Max, 2017 (top of blog post also by Peter Max, Peace, 1971)
Love, Robert Indiana, 1986
Love, Robert Indiana, sculpture in New York City
Peace, Romero Britto, 1991
Love Is In The Air Too, Romero Britto, 2020
Four Hearts, Jim Dine, 1969
Peace Watercolor, Jim Dine, date unknown
Some final thoughts...
The photograph above is from the Richard Daniel Baker Peace Park, close to Amarillo, Texas. Last fall, while driving on historic Route 66, we came across this park, just off the highway. The park, decorated with metal art sculptures, signs, colorful paint and a very large peace sign, summed up how peace and love can exist in all things, no matter how different people are, the countries they live in, or the lives that they lead. In this field in the middle of Texas, veterans are honored for their service(while the cost of human lives for their service is also shown), various religions are represented from all kinds of places in the world, and signs in the park show how we all come from different races, nationalities, creeds, backgrounds, and ethnicity. This field in the middle of Texas, through color and shapes and art, creatively represents peace and love. Now, wouldn't it be great if it could really happen in the world we live in? Perhaps it's a wish or a hope, but perhaps it's also something to continue to strive and fight for. Because, this field shows that we are all part of this world together. And it's probably way past time that we start acting more "TOGETHER" towards each other. The good news? It's not really that hard to find peace and love in your life and for others around you if you are looking for it, open to it, and willing to make it happen. What are some ways you can have more peace and love for yourself? For your family? For your neighborhood? For the world? You can probably come up with some meaningful ideas on your own, but if you need some inspiration to begin, here is a link with 101 simple ideas to help you get started. Now, go out and spread some peace and love and make this world a better place.
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