Peace Builders

Peacebuilders is an exhibition of ten embroideries showing Americans, Israelis, and Palestinians involved in confronting injustices and teaching others. I have adapted a straight-stitch embroidery style from eastern India called kantha. Instead of large colorful kantha quilts, I have chosen a smaller size and a palette of black thread on muslin to picture peacebuilders doing such simple acts as demonstrating and learning from other peacebuilders. None of these actions alone brings about real change, but the actions of many increase the possibility that peace, justice and security for Palestinians and Israelis may result.

Peacebuilders focus on commonalities between people rather than what divides them. They consider all people as potential allies and believe that lasting peace must be based on respect for human rights and international law. They are people such as Combatants for Peace who were actively fighting each other, then realized this was only intensifying the conflict, and decided to work with each other. As you see in the Jewish Voice for Peace posters with messages like “We Stand with Humanity”, Peacebuilders’ messages are inclusive unlike such exclusive messages as “We Support Palestinians” or “We Support Israel”.

If you are interested in purchasing a Peacebuilders booklet or having an exhibition of the Peacebuilders’ embroideries contact me at ameliep@comcast.net.