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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Copper Plates On The Kitchen Floor (Please Don't Miss This Post!)




So, they got up early and went to the beach. 5am. Brackley Beach. Prince Edward Island, Canada. Two sleepy teenagers and a mom.

It was freezing.


How many teenagers do you know willing to get up at the crack of dawn to be part of a peace project?
Maida and Thomas thought it was so cool that their mom wanted to Blog for Peace that they volunteered to help her carry out the deed. Armed with a few copper plates and oodles of imagination and talent lined up in a pattern on the kitchen floor, they hatched a "special plan."

Hear Debra's narration at its inception from her special kitcheny peace perspective, spoken expertly into her camera phone like an undercover agent for international peace . "This is our Peace Project for November 6th set up in the house. My teenagers and I are going to go to the beach .Wednesday morning ......5 o'clock in the morning before school and set up to take pictures before the sun comes up."

And that's exactly what they did.

"I am positive the world could achieve peace if we found a way to love and take care of each other," writes Debra James Percival. "Not just the more fortunate taking care of the less fortunate. That’s great and good; I am talking about a deeper love and caring. I am talking about a love and caring that comes from the soul of all walks of life that can not be earned by giving cash out. Like helping someone less fortunate (bad health, loss of a loved one, lonely, etc…) in ways that money can not help, that is true love and caring, giving of self. A love that is given without resentment, a love that does not expect a pat on the back, you can be dirt poor and caringly help an elderly person across the street even if they do have an expensive coat on and you do not. Simple acts are honest to God Caring/Love! "

The stunning sunrise photographs you see show the finished product of Debra, Thomas, and Maida's master plan. The floor pics are from the 1 minute video made by Debra in her lovely island home showing how the plates looked before they made it to what I am calling the "Sunrise Sand Gallery." You must see it. PLEASE go look. Debra and her children worked and planned their peaceful loving protest in the kitchen......Laid out, carefully designed, photographed, labelled, ready to make their debut on a windy beach at an unbelievably early hour to catch the best light as a backdrop.
Anywhere in the world, it's the most peaceful hour of the day.




Then Mom made a framed and signed "thank you" photograph for her two partners in peace crime.
And yes, I cried when I read this the first time. And the second. Well, maybe the third too (OK OK I confess!) But the thought of a family I never met on a faraway island in another country going to this much trouble to Blog For Peace touched me to the core. I'll admit. I was a sappy sorry mess for a few glorious minutes.





And then the sun came up and I saw one more tether of hope stretched across my world....connected by those three little Latin words. It was all so clear.
And all was right with my world too.

Thank you, Debra, husband, Maida and Thomas.

We love your peace globe, but more than that, we love the sound of peace on the beach with a family full of hot chocolate and love.
Spelled out with copper plates.

You are one cool peace mom.
With two VERY cool teenagers.
************************

Debra James Percival lives in Canada and is a Printmaker Artist and a "non-toxic Printmaker Instructor". She is a graduate of the Nova Scotia Art and Design School. Her photography is stunning (see shadow shot) as is the work housed in this gallery.
Her mediums include: intaglio type, collagraph, monoprint, wood cut, polyester plate lit
hography, water based silkscreen, and copper and aluminum etchin.
I have no idea what most of that means. But I do know
this.....

I am very glad she's a peace blogger. Aren't you?
I hope you will visit Debra's sunrise world. It's called A Printmakers Blog About Art and Printmaking.
And say hi to Maida and Thomas.

*All artwork and photography in this post is copyrighted by Debra James Percival and may not be copied for any reason without permission from the artist.

31 comments:

Julie said...

This is just amazing Mimi! What you and I talked about last night...well.......it was just a tiny tiny part of it. This is way bigger than we can imagine.

Love you dear!

Now one problem here....I can't find a spot to comment on her blog!

Mimi Lenox said...

Julie - It is amazing. I hope she reads this soon. I've written her an email about the comment issue. She'll have visitors for sure.

People continue to surprise and delight me in this project. What a cool family!

Bud Weiser, WTIT said...

This makes it so worthwhile. The changes. The effort is impressive!

Queen-Size funny bone said...

let it grow and let it spread like wildfire.

Travis Cody said...

I loved her post.

Mimi Lenox said...

Bud - Very rewarding. I love the way they carried through their idea with persistence and love.

Mimi Lenox said...

Queen - I'll say amen to that.

Mimi Lenox said...

Travis - You probably read it before I got to it! I hope folks will email her if she can't get the comments set.

Mike Golch said...

Great posting.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

A beautiful in-the-3-D-world peace globe creation. Performance art! And a family event, too - with teenagers! Brilliant. I'm in her neck of the world - Prince Edward Island is next to my province of Nova Scotia, and her art school, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, is a block away from where I work.

In that spirit of art created by your Blogblast For Peace, come and visit my Thursday Thirteen today - I've featured 13 of my favorite peace globes from last week's event with their creators' gracious permission. Stop by for a stroll through my virtual gallery!

bobbie said...

Such a beautiful story! And beautiful pictures as well.

Yes, I can imagine teenagers like that. I worked with teenagers many years ago in conjunction with a project for special kids, and found them so full of enthusiasm and willing to do whatever was asked of them. I love young people! Thank God they are the generation who will be furthering the cause of Peace.

Charles Gramlich said...

Definitely very cool. Dare say it gives me hope for teenagers everywhere.

Unknown said...

Beautiful story and tear jerking pictures. I agree with Charles. That story restored my faith in teenagers. I love stories like that.

Mimi Lenox said...

Mike - I had to tell this story. Very sweet family.

Mimi Lenox said...

Julia - Sandee told me about your post. I can't wait to read it!
Maybe you can have a cup of tea with the Maida, Thomas and Debra!

Mimi Lenox said...

Bobbie - They have to pick up the passion and run with it. These kids are off to a running start.

Mimi Lenox said...

Charles - It gives me hope as well. They are wonderful examples, aren't they?

Babs (Beetle) said...

Wonderful peace globe! What a lovely thing to do.

Hope she allows comments soon :O)

Anndi said...

Aren't kids in Canada cool?

That put such a smile on my face, thank you for directing us to her my dear. You do bring out the very best in people.

Cinnamon Girl said...

Those are truly lovely pictures =)

Ferd said...

I wish I could have left a comment on Debra's blog. I am glad you directed us to it, Mimi. It was a very touching and effective show of unity for this wonderful movement.

Debra, and family, if you are reading this: Thank You. You make my world a better place, too! : )

Mimi Lenox said...

Babs - I will make sure she knows there are accolades here as well.

Mimi Lenox said...

Anndi - Her artwork is fabulous.

Mimi Lenox said...

Starr - Very peaceful...

Mimi Lenox said...

Ferd - Thank you for attempting to comment there. I hope she is reading the comments here as well!

Patti said...

What an inspiring family! She is one cool Mom, and those teens of hers are great.

I have to go visit her now.

Patti said...

I'm not too savvy, couldn't find where to comment on Debra's post.

I am impressed with her family's creativity.

Michelle said...

Wow, amazing and beautiful!

Desert Songbird said...

Wow. Just....wow.

Mojo said...

As a photographer, I know what it means to "go anywhere do anything to 'get the shot'". But I rarely have anyone along other than The Tonka Unit to help out. (And he mainly watches the truck for me while I work.) So to not only have two teenagers willing to support the work, but to actively participate... she must be a pretty special kind of mom. When they were in their teens I doubt I could have gotten my guys out of bed that early, forget about getting them down to a frozen beach to lay pieces of sheet metal out in the sand.

This is way cool. Way, way cool.

Debra James Percival said...

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful comments. I will eventually resolve my comment problem on my blog. I am a great clicker, but sometimes that is what works against me. I am going to have to go visit another computer blogger and ask for help. Special thanks to you Mimi and your wonderful Peace Globes.
All the best.

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