The night before Mother's Day in 2007, a small group of women waited until darkest dark and then in silent, stealthy procession, unloaded scores of huge canvas panels from the trunks of cars and backs of pick-ups and lugged them to the base of a long chain-link fence. The long private chain-link fence owned by the railroad which separates the tracks (and an embarrassing bit of toxic land along the tracks) from Ashland's town center.
By flashlight, and amidst intermittent outbursts of giggles, the women threaded twisty-ties through grommets on the panels and secured them to the fence.
The leader of this midnight insurrection was a tiny, white-haired woman with a dream, an iron will, and a British accent. "Come on, luv, let's hurry it up!" she barked in a hoarse whisper as she patrolled the installation.
The next morning, the town awoke to the splendor of a blocks-long display of colorful handmade panels created by local artists and artisans, school children, families, individuals, and veterans. In a time of war, the panels all carried the same theme. Peace. In a time of heartbreak, they offered hope.
On Monday, September 21, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a gathering in front of the Ashland Public Library on the corner of Siskiyou Boulevard and Gresham Street. You are invited. That's the day a magnificent permanent installation along the wall in front of our beloved library will be dedicated. An installation of the more than 200 original peace panels, photographed and reproduced on ceramic tiles and set into an exquisite metalwork sculpture. A work of art and conscience that began in the mind of one woman, will be on display in our community for generations to come.
To see photos and read the whole story, go to www.peacefence.org.
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