As the children of the Marian Extended Care daycare filed in to their room, they were in awe of a new piece of furniture: a blue chair decorated with the Earth on the seat and the rings of Saturn and the words “Peace is the way, there is no way to peace” inscribed on the back rim.
Before the children were allowed to sit in the “peace chair,” Paula Vangallo, the daycare director, quizzed the children on the different ways to say peace.
The chair was a gift from the Peace Chair Project, a nonprofit group under the umbrella of the Santa Barbara Cultural Development Foundation. The organization creates and places artist peace chairs in classrooms, libraries, and other public places for “a place to think about sharing. Or, sit there if you are sad,” as JJ, one of the children in the daycare, said.
Catalina McIsaac, the program’s director and one of the artists, was present during the official sit-in. Also present were two city council members from Santa Maria: Mike Cordero and Alice Patino.
The Peace Chair Project offers the serene seat to anyone who desires to think about peace, and the text can be translated into any language. This dove, however, can’t soar on its own wings: Those who wish to donate to spread the gift of peace should visit peacechairproject.org. All donations are tax deductible, and $500 can fund the composition of a chair. m
Intern Henry Houston compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 22-29, 2009.
