Children from FB Meekins Preschool in Vienna Participate in Global Chalk Art Project for Peace
Vienna, Va. -- On Saturday, September 12, more than 40 children from FB Meekins Preschool in Vienna created beautiful chalk artwork on the Meekins blacktop as part of CHALK4PEACE, the worldwide chalk art project for young artists of all ages.
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September 16, 2009
Contact:Jen Rothe
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CHALK IT UP FOR PEACE
Children from FB Meekins Preschool in Vienna Participate in Global Chalk Art Project for Peace
Vienna, Va. -- On Saturday, September 12, more than 40 children from FB Meekins Preschool in Vienna created beautiful chalk artwork on the Meekins blacktop as part of CHALK4PEACE, the worldwide chalk art project for young artists of all ages. Chalk4Peace is in its fourth year as a global peace event and will run through the month of September. FB Meekins Preschool joins dozens of Fairfax County public and private schools in the effort.
The goal of CHALK4PEACE is to have one million or more people around the world creating artwork that depicts their concepts of peace. This is a nonpartisan event meant to encourage peace education in all areas of life through outdoor chalk art events. The month of September has been designated as the worldwide CHALK4PEACE month and coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. This global event will involve people and organizations from countries around the world.
From www.chalk4peace.org:
From its beginnings in 2003 in Arlington, Va., as a Sunday sidewalk chalk project for children, to its recognition by the Arlington Arts Commission, the DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities, the DC Mayor's Office, the Humanities Project of Arlington and Whole Foods Markets, CHALK4PEACE has grown through the efforts of hundreds of events organizers, teachers, parents, community outreach coordinators, libraries, arts centers and other peace minded individuals and organizations.
The campaign to make CHALK4PEACE worldwide began on July 16, 2005, the day after the first CHALK4PEACE event at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC. John Aaron, the Global Project Founder of CHALK4PEACE and chalk events coordinator, began a print and email campaign, sending out more than 5,000 personalized emails and 6,000 full color brochures about CHALK4PEACE for 2005-6. You may have received one or two along the way...
The global campaign spread coast to coast across the United States, to Cape Town, South Africa and places in Europe.
Last year, more than one hundred individually organized sites with authorized clearances chalked out their messages and visions for a more peaceful planet.
CHALK4PEACE is not encouraged as an anti-war demonstration; rather, it is a creative presentation for young artists of all ages utilizing the theme of Peace.
This year, we expect CHALK4PEACE to grow even larger than last year, as it is now happening on four continents and most of the sites from last year have enlisted others to join in and/or create their own sites.
Mr. Aaron is a long time artist, sculptor, painter, educator and events coordinator who is internationally recognized for his contributions to his artforms and for creating the atmosphere conducive to make CHALK4PEACE a global event.
