By Rita Arancibia, Volunteer Clarksville
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The first exhibit of “Celebrating the Spirit of Service and Unity: Pillars of Hope“, a public art project that celebrates the spirit of service and unity following September 11 will be held at Planters Banks, located on Madison and Commerce Street in Clarksville from May 19-22.
The Pillars will also be exhibited at various other locations through June 10.
“The Pillars of Hope” began in 2012 as a creative effort to inspire the tradition of charitable service on 9/11. It is a positive way for community members to connect and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, honor those who rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind all of us of the importance of working more closely together in peace to improve our community and the world.
The project gives a voice to the future through art. Each tile is painted with artwork and messages of peace, respect, and understanding for humanity.
More than 1,200 painted tiles will be used to create the “Pillars of Hope.” Ken Shipley, APSU Professor of Ceramics finds inspiration from the tiles painted at community workshops, and it has helped him design and produce the “Pillars of Hope.” A second group of unpainted, informational tiles using wood letters from the APSU Goldsmith Press & Rare Type Collection infuse a timeline of 9/11/01 events into the public art piece.
Schedule of exhibits:
May 19-22, 2014- Planters Banks located at 1971 Madison and 325 Commerce
May 23-June 1, 2014- Clarksville-Montgomery County Library, 350 Pageant Lane.
June 2-June 10, 2014- LEAP Plaza, 1860 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.
From now until August 1 the community is invited to paint tiles to help complete the project. There is no charge to paint tiles at the Pottery Room locations on Madison Street and Trenton Road.
To learn more about the project, volunteer, donate, or to schedule the exhibit, call Rita Arancibia at 931-551-5450.