WILMINGTON — John Noltner merged his interests in photography and peace activism to create a multimedia art project that seeks to answer the question, “What does peace men to you?”
Wilmington College will host his acclaimed exhibit, “A Peace of My Mind,” March 23 through April 20 in Harcum Art Gallery with an opening reception honoring the artist Wednesday, March 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. Normal gallery hours are weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by special arrangement made by curator Hal Shunk, professor of art.
Harcum Gallery is cosponsoring the exhibit with the Issues & Artists Series Committee, Activities Programming Board, Student Government Assn. and Peace Resource Center.
Since 2009, Noltner has been asking people the simple — or not so simple — question, “What does peace mean to you?” The presentation combines photographs of diverse subjects and their personal stories exploring the meaning of peace. He has included voices ranging from Holocaust survivors to the homeless and political refugees.
His project has been presented at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, the Peace and Justice Studies Assoc., the Sojourners Summit for Change and the Dayton International Peace Museum.
Noltner believes that art and storytelling have the power to transform our hearts, as well as our communities. While compelling personalities like Gandhi, Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela come to mind when thinking about peacemakers, Noltner’s exhibit features everyday heroes whose stories remind us that each of us makes choices every day that can lead to a more peaceful world.
