The Salem Peace Mosaic is a community-building art and poetry project that brought together Salem area youth, adults and seniors to create a 60-foot long mosaic mural. The mosaic includes hand made ceramic relief, mosaics and a river of glass with fused and cast glass with the words Peace, Salaam and Shalom. As the mural so beautifully expresses, Salem means “Peace.”
Please visit the Salem Peace Mosaic. It is located on the front and side exterior walls of the Salem Family YMCA, 685 Court St. NE in Salem, Oregon.
A Brief Summary of The Project:
The Salem Peace Mosaic used a participatory art process to create a mosaic for the Salem community. Mosaic artist Lynn Takata, poets Eleanor Berry and Marilyn Johnston, and spoken word artist Miguel-Loredo Reyes led workshops that involved the public in creating art and poetry about Peace. In addition, Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen contributed a poem written specifically for this project.
A wide range of engaging activities took place at multiple locations* throughout the Salem area. Over 600 people participated, ranging in age from 2 to 90. Their designs were integrated to form a rich, diverse mosaic. From clay relief tiles to mosaic poetry to arranging tiles on the wall, the art activities incorporated into the mural gave participants a chance to play, dream, collaborate, and discover their creativity. A diverse group of children, teens and adults worked together to place tiles in the mosaic during the Summer 2011 installation.
Our mosaic was the first project to be approved by the Salem Public Art Commission. It also received the Salem Peacemaker of the Year Award in 2011 and was dedicated on August 13, 2011.
*Workshops were held at Salem area schools as well as Mid-Valley Mentors, Center 50+, Salem Art Association, Chemeketa Community College’s Multicultural Center, Willamette Art Center, Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility, the IKE Box, Canyon Arts Festival, Salem Library, Clockworks Cafe & Cultural Center, Chemawa Powwow and the Salem Family YMCA.
