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Submitted photo
One of the displays at the Art Discovery program is now housed at the Presbyterian Church in Fredonia.
The Art Discovery Program, previously housed at the Tri-Church Parish in Brocton, has moved to its new location at Fredonia Presbyterian Church.
“We were welcomed with great enthusiasm,” said Lucy Andrus, coordinator of Art Discovery. “We moved here in August and held our first classes at our new home this past fall”.
While the grand opening reception of this new location is still a few months away, there is a special exhibit currently on display at Fredonia Presbyterian featuring Peace Mandalas created by fall Art Discovery participants in response to current global unrest and the need for peace in our world.
“So many of us are concerned about the current situation with wars and divisions in our world but feel helpless to do anything about it,” said Andrus. “We kept thinking what could we do as individuals? We’re not in a position to change things on a global scale but if we can figure out ways to be more peaceful people in our own everyday lives, then we might be able to bring about greater peacefulness in our own little slice of the world.”
Through this project, Andrus and her students want visitors to the exhibit realize that, while we may not have control over things happening on a global scale, each of us can change something about the things we do that can result in greater peacefulness.
“We can’t just give up saying there’s nothing we can do,” said Andrus. “We can become more peaceful people by doing things differently, like practicing gratitude, being less judgmental of others, being better listeners, and so on. If everyone just did one thing differently to be more peaceful, this is how we can make change and make a difference.”
In addition to displaying the Peace Mandalas, the exhibit encourages anyone to take the Peace Pledge by deciding one thing they can do to be a more peaceful person. These pledges are written on peace doves that are added to the display.
Andrus wants everyone to be involved, and invites community members to join her and her students in making a peace pledge. She encourages people to write down one thing they will work to do differently, and text it to her at 716-467-3392. Those who do will have their pledge added to the messages of peace that are already on display at the exhibit.
While a grand opening for the new location is expected to occur late spring or early summer, those who want to see the exhibit at the new location are welcome to do so. The Peace exhibit will be open at Fredonia Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, 219 Central Ave. in Fredonia on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 11.
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