Susan Shaffer, Lisa Down and Joel Sackett are inviting islanders to picture peace.
The trio have planned “A Bainbridge Island Town Portrait for Peace” on Feb. 1, a mass portrait of islanders opposing possible war with Iraq.
“In a time when many of the leaders of our country seem to not be listening to those who are opposed to war, the creation of this photo gives us an opportunity to become visible voices,” Shaffer said. “It is a way to show that we are not just little pencil lines on a voting ballot, signatures on a petition or poll statistics.”
Shaffer was inspired to record islanders when she received a Christmas card with a portrait of 800 Port Townsend residents inscribed “Peace On Earth.”
“It was a powerful image,” Shaffer said, “and sparked the idea that we could do this on the island.”
The notion of making a town portrait was conceived in Winthrop, Wash., and spread to Port Townsend, where a similar portrait was made in late October, posted on a web site and sent through the mail on postcards.
By the time North Kitsap made a peace portrait in mid-January, the idea had spread to other venues as far away as Maui.
Shaffer ran into an acquaintance, islander Lisa Down, at the North Kitsap shoot. Down’s long-term commitment to peace as a Quaker prompted her to offer to help organize the island event.
“I was very impressed when I heard about it by word of mouth, that Port Townsend had done this,” Down said, “especially since 800 people is one-tenth of the whole town. You can clearly see their faces. The people who care enough to come together in an act of courage to literally stand for peace.”
The women enlisted island photographer Joel Sackett.
“There’s a need in the community that people feel to ‘get out there,’” Sackett said. “I’m starting to see ‘No War in Iraq’ signs in yards and ‘No War’ in car windows.”
Organizers hope to encourage other communities to organize for peace by creating postcards and greeting cards to send to friends, family and elected officials. They say those who stand for the portrait should understand the photo will be put to that use.
“If we have an opportunity to be really seen, to show we are human beings and not invisible voices, it can be a very powerful thing,” Shaffer said.
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Bainbridge residents are invited to be in the picture for “A Bainbridge Island Town Portrait for Peace,” 11 a.m. Feb. 1 at the Bainbridge High School stadium field. Rain or shine. For information call 842-4859 or 842-9395. Website for the Port Townsend portrait: www.ptforpeace.info.
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Island peace groups
* Bainbridge United for Peace, formed last fall “with the goal of peace…peace locally, regionally, nationally and globally” www.bainbridgeforpeace.org.
* Live for Everyone formed by BHS junior Nicalee Tusler stages an anti-war rally every Tuesday from 5-6 p.m. at the corner of 305 and High School. “Bring signs, everyone welcome.” Call 855-7882.
* Kitsap Community Action Network: local/ global issues through individual / cooperative actions. Conscientious Projector film festival, Feb. 21-23. www.kitsapcan.org.
* Women in Black hold a vigil every Friday, 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. at Winslow Way and 305: a global movement to protest war, rape as a tool of war, ethnic cleansing, human rights abuses.” http://bicomnet.com/wib/
* “Jeff Moore and Friends” An informal group stands vigil at 305 and High School; call 842-9487
* Conversation Cafe at Pegasus Coffee House hosts discussion of topical issues every Thursday, 7-9 p.m. This week: diverse viewpoints on war with Iraq. Call 842-0223.
* Bainbridge High School Peace Coalition, dedicated to opposing war in Iraq, was founded by BHS junior Marty Souza. The “peace club,” joined by BHS faculty, studies issues and networks with other peace organizations. Call 842-2634.
