By Noah Jeffries, The Record Delta
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WV News) — Every year since 1981, the United Nations has recognized Sept. 21 as an International Day of Peace to raise awareness about peace and highlight the things that connect us instead of divide us. To celebrate this occasion, local kids will be putting their own spin on the special event.
Students at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School soon will be celebrating the International Day of Peace by displaying pinwheels symbolizing what peace means to them. This is part of a larger “Whirled Peace Day” initiative happening across the world.
Art students will spend the coming days learning about several artists, as well as art techniques they can utilize when creating their own pinwheel, said Sherri Butler, a 7th grade art teacher.
“There are five pop artists and techniques they’re going to learn about,” she said. “There are four segments of the pinwheel on the front side, and the students are going to create an image that portrays the idea of peace.”
The “Whirled Peace” project began almost 20 years ago by art teachers wanting to teach kids about the internationally recognized day, Butler said.
“The whole project started in 2005 in Florida by two art teachers who decided to observe International Peace Day by making pinwheels and calling it ‘Whirled Peace,’” she said. “I think it just keeps growing and growing. It’s grown to about four million pinwheels.”
