Painting For Peace in Ferguson

"'Painting for Peace in Ferguson' is the stunning result of a native artist's compassionate response to the boarded up storefronts of Ferguson that resulted from the violence and racism of 2014. 'Painting for Peace in Ferguson' shows the amazing results that stem from members of a community, black and white, coming together to create a new, vibrant, healing vision expressed through art, painted on the blank storefronts. A citywide Paint for Peace effort left all the blank storefronts transformed into dazzling, inspiring works of art with messages of peace, love, and racial harmony. The narrative poetry text of 'Painting for Peace in Ferguson' explains the central message: Empowerment, or, out of chaos and fear comes joy, love and transformation, a community determined to rebirth itself with healing love for differences at the core. The rainbow and black and white art works are amazing, overwhelming, full of hope. 'We must each do our part,' no matter how small. Funds from the sale of 'Painting for Peace in Ferguson' will go to the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation, to benefit North County area youth and art programs and business and employees affected by damage and loss of business." -- Children's Bookwatch, The Art Shelf Midwest Book Review
"Talking to children, especially young kids, about the events in Ferguson can be a challenge. The new 'Painting for Peace in Ferguson' can help start a conversation." -- Jody Mitori, Assistant Managing Editor, Features St. Louis Post-Dispatch
I actually cried when I first opened the book! Such a creative and uplifting vision of hope for a town that has been through so much violence and trauma. We are so happy to share this book with our community and hope it helps to foster love, understanding and change for a better, more diverse and creative world! -- Michelle Barron, Owner, The Book House, Maplewood, MO
In a time of explosive racial hostility and violence, Carol Swartout Klein has captured ahealing moment that reminds us of what is possible when we confront the sociallyconstructed barriers that separate us and work together as a community to express andcelebrate our shared humanness. Using a multi-textured array of colorful rhymes andimages, this book addresses complex issues in a language that even preschoolers canunderstand. Yet, it simultaneously conveys an authentic message of hope for a just andequitable peace that will resonate with people of all ages, all races, and all walks of life.Painting for Peace in Fergusonpresents us with a vision of freedom and fairness forwhich many have fought and died - a vision to which we all must aspire. -- Leon Sharpe Founder & Principle - The Praxis Group Adjunct Professor - Webster University
"The true story of the hundreds of artists and citizens who came together in the face of violence and darkness to create beautiful images of hope and peace." - - Huffington Post