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Inner Peace, Family Peace, Community Peace

The Pacifist Potential, March 4-28 at Carnegie Art Center

The desire to share a vision of peace has brought together more than 30 artists from Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, California, Illinois, Germany and the Czech Republic in the exhibition, “The Pacifist Potential: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Peace.” The exhibition comes to Walla Walla’s Carnegie Art Center in March. Organized by Portland artist and educator Christopher Shotola-Hardt, the show features sculpture, pastel and oil paintings, photography, giclee, mixed-media and assemblage works. “Events in the Middle East and social unrest even in our own nation and community require attention and discussion about how to respond humanely and respectfully,” Shotola-Hardt says. The exhibition brings together artists from a variety of experiences and backgrounds. Musicians, writers, scholars, conscientious objectors, veterans, and people of different religious and spiritual beliefs have contributed to the discussion of history, ethics and the efficacy of nonviolence that the exhibit captures. An artist and curator of the Walla Walla exhibition, Anne Bullock, sees the show’s purpose about “exploring ideas about peace and justice both locally and abroad. Peace is not, of course, just the absence of conflict.” “I have long thought that the general public considers pacifism and passivity synonymous,” says Portland photographer Aaron Johanson in a statement submitted for The Pacifist Potential. “Pacifism is really an activity that confronts violence but not on the terms that violence creates. Pacifism is clear-headed resolve that runs counter to violence.” The exhibit has been displayed at Blackfish Gallery in Portland’s Pearl District as well as at the Newport, Ore. Gallery of Art during the past year. Bullock says, “Christopher Shotola-Hardt and Blackfish Gallery have pulled together an extraordinary group of mindful citizens who are passionate about living on this planet non-violently. This exhibition demonstrates a range of perspectives about these challenging issues existing in society and the world.” A unique feature of the exhibit includes essays each artist wrote about their art piece and how it relates to their experiences and expressions. Catalogues of the images and essays will be available. The exhibit’s opening reception is March 7, 5 to 7 p.m. at Carnegie Art Center, 109 S. Palouse. The exhibit is on display March 4 to 28 and is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. >>read the curator's statement