January 9 through February 20, 2013
John Noltner
What do we share in common as a human race? Despite increasing diversity, we remain deeply divided as a society today. We often find ourselves separated along religious, political, and cultural lines. Polarized public dialogues and culture wars intensify divisions within our communities.
In response, “A Peace of My Mind introduces us to people we likely would never meet on our own — because of differences in ethnic background, faith, or the locations we live. And as we get to know these people, we come to realize that our differences are minuscule in light of the most-important trait: that we all want peace,” wrote Faith & Values reporter Jeff Strickler of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Founded in 2009, A Peace of My Mind is a multimedia art project that fosters public dialogue about issues related to conflict resolution, civic responsibility, and peace. With black and white portraits and oral histories, over fifty subjects describe what peace means to them, how they work toward it in their lives, and some of the obstacles they encounter.
Those profiled include Holocaust survivors and a homeless man, a Somali refugee and a military chaplain, a pottery instructor and an oil company executive. Artists, volunteers, politicians, and business leaders all share their thoughts and inspiring stories in a series that celebrates our common experience and sense of community.
Artist:
Minnesota-based storyteller John Noltner uses words, images, and video to explore the world and our own humanity. His work has been featured in Smithsonian magazine, National Geographic Traveler, AAA Living, Health, and Midwest Living. His book, A Peace of My Mind: Exploring the Meaning of Peace One Story at a Time won a gold medal in the Midwest Book Awards.
