Festival promotes peace and friendship

Lauren Richeson and Elizabeth Carr were strangers when today began.

But it didn't take them long to befriend each other over sidewalk art drawn with chalk at the sixth annual Family Peace Festival.

"We don't know each other's backgrounds, we don't know each other's religions, but that doesn't matter. We're just having fun," said Carr of Chesterfield County.

Richeson and Carr were among the many artists, or those simply willing to spend a few minutes drawing on the ground, using art to show what peace means to them, which included peace signs, a serene mountain landscape, a white dove or the occasional paw print.

The chalk art effort called Chalk4Peace was brought to the festival by ART 180 and the Richmond Peace Education Center. Chalk4Peace is a worldwide effort that began in 2003 in Arlington County and today marked the first time a such a mural was created in Richmond, said Michael Guerdi, program coordinator and volunteer coordinator for Art 108.

"There are adults down here, drawing with chalk on the ground with 5-year-old children," said Richeson of Richmond. "Chalk4Peace is a great idea because it's showing the world that you don't have to create something crazy artistic to make a difference. Simply, get on the ground with a piece of chalk and write something from inside you."

A fall-like day greeted hundreds of people who meandered along the grounds of St. Joseph's Villa, where groups advocating peace, unity and togetherness set up displays. Attracting the diverse crowd is an aim for the festival organizers.

"I think the fact that we see a strong turnout says a lot about the greater Richmond community, that we're out here celebrating something positive, celebrating a vision of peace," said Adria Scharf, director of the Richmond Peace Education Center. "I think it's a real statement about the community."

The idea for the festival began to develop eight years ago, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Islamic Center of Virginia and Bon Air United Methodist Church then teamed to create this interfaith gathering.

While the festival receives contributions from faith-based organizations, the grass-roots effort receives little grant funding, largely counting on volunteers and organizing help from the Richmond Peace Education Center and the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond.

Richeson and Carr embraced the message of peace and togetherness. Their chalk-covered hands, faces and clothing showed their willingness to sit on the sidewalk to help young children add their vision of peace to the ever-changing designs.

Guerdi was documenting the mural with a camera, because the art will eventually wash away. But the togetherness it builds, like the budding friendship between Richeson and Carr, may be lasting.

"It's amazing to see children and to see adults get excited over the little things," Richeson said. "It's those things that make the biggest difference. Something as small as sidewalk chalk."