Peace. The message is universal. The late Don Trousdell’s vision is unique. The idea of peace has been around for a long time, even before the young people of the ’60s. Mankind from early days has yearned for peaceful times. This exhibition,“Walk in Peace,” at the St. Augustine Art Association celebrates the idea of peace — its symbols, signs and stories from the past to present.
In past interviews, Trousdell said, “At a time when there is a lot of conflict, terror and war, I want people to reinvestigate the idea of how we can contribute to making peace. Peace has many different faces. I’m not trying to be a historian here,” he said. “I just want people to stop and think about what the message of peace meant to people through time — around the world, and what it means to us now.”
“Walk in Peace” is a vibrant exhibition with bold paintings, painted shoes, architectural iconography and interactive installations that chronicle the history and imagery of peace. The paintings represent graffiti-like art, political commentary, religious ideals and cultural symbolism in bold, colorful images — all created to inspire and inform people of all ages and background.
Specifically, the exhibit includes three interactive booths and 27 wall groupings, each with either a graffiti-like painting or a traditional painting, a painted pair of shoes and a sculptural relief icon. The exhibit signage, in the form of shoe prints, tell the stories of each art piece.
To expand on the artwork and interactive elements of “Walk in Peace,” artists from the St. Augustine Art Association have created works reflecting on the many aspects of peace. “Finding Peace” will be a digital display in correlation to Trousdell’s exhibit, both in-gallery and online at www.staaa.org.
“Walk in Peace” is far more than an educational art exhibition. It is an idea for our times. The exhibition opens on Sept. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. for First Friday Art Walk, and continues through Friday, Sept. 24, at the St. Augustine Art Association. This will be the last time this exhibit will be seen in its entirety, as select groupings will be for sale.
The St. Augustine Art Association is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. The Art Association is located at 22 Marine St. in historic downtown St. Augustine.
For more information, call (904) 824-2310 or go to www.staaa.org.
