'CND march.' Photo: © Martin Morley.
Quaker peace-building in art
Linda Murgatroyd writes about creating a calendar for 2018
The seeds of the 2018 Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) calendar were sown a long time ago. For years I had heard about Quaker peace-building work, but I was very vague about quite what was involved. Reading about Adam Curle’s practical and academic work (he was the founding professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford) started to give me a clearer sense of this important ministry. As I grew more aware of the importance of the FWCC in supporting Friends around the world, and of the need for Quaker resources other than books in English, I wondered whether there was scope for using art to illustrate and publicise different kinds of Quaker peace witness by making a beautiful and useful wall calendar.
Gretchen Castle, general secretary of FWCC, was very enthusiastic and a call for submissions via the Quaker Arts Network and FWCC yielded a wealth of beautiful and powerful artworks to choose from. As I researched the peace work involved, I often felt humbled and inspired by the courage and wisdom of Friends as they followed the leadings of the Spirit. The importance of their Quaker faith came through strongly. It was also moving to learn about both the peace work and the art, whether a mural in Belfast, a wreath in New Zealand, a quilt in Palestine or an embroidered cloth from the Congo. It was also heartening to hear that some isolated Friends were really boosted by their involvement.
FWCC and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) each found a Friend to help discern the selection of artworks for the calendar. We sought high quality and diverse artworks which reflected different kinds of Quaker peace-building work around the world. The calendar also includes short inspirational texts and introductions in English, French and Spanish. We hope that it will give pleasure and inspire Friends and others during 2018 and beyond.
Further information: http://fwcc.world/2018-calendar
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