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Georgia Military Prep students planted 350 pinwheels Sept. 21 on the west lawn of the GMC campus, between the Sibley Cone Library and the Old Capitol Building.
The students were participating in an international art and literacy project called Pinwheels for Peace.
Seven years ago, this project was started by art teacher Paige Barlow in Baldwin County.
Her Middle and High School Art Club are the main coordinators of the project, alongside her art classes. Each year, they create about 350 to 370 pinwheels with peaceful messages written on the front side and peaceful drawings on the backside.
“We teach the concept of peace by exploring what brings them (her students) peace and how to model peace for others,” said Barlow. “Each pinwheel represents a student’s definition of peace and is an expression of how someone can find peace to viewers of the day-long exhibit.”
Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, of Coconut Creek, Fla., as a way for students to express their feelings about what is going on in the world and in their lives. The project is a form of self-expression displayed during the annual International Day of Peace. Last year, more than 4.5 million pinwheels were spinning in over 3,500 locations, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and South America.
At GMC, last year, about 375 pinwheels were spinning on the lawn.
“We start the project about mid-September and let students design for about a week and then spend an entire day actually putting together the pinwheels,” said Barlow. “Our mission was to promote loving one another and promoting unity. We hope when people looked at them, it felt calming.”
The exhibit occurred from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. before the pinwheels were collected and recycled.
In previous years, the pinwheels were made using drawing paper but this year, Barlow states that students used poster boards for better protection against the elements.
In addition, pinwheels had taller dowel rods this year.
“The best part of the project each year is seeing the students plant the pinwheels, locate their own, and get to see their creativity and messages spinning in the wind,” said Barlow. “It leaves both them and the community smiling.”
According to Barlow, many of the students represented peace by drawing sunsets or environments or portraying peaceful activities like reading a book. Barlow also created a few pinwheels herself and expressed that the students always enjoy hunting the art installation to locate her pinwheels amongst their own.
“Whether someone is a verbal or visual person, art is another form to express how they feel.
The pinwheels have both words and illustrations to convey these personal messages,” said Barlow.
“The biggest impact of this project is making and planting the installation.
Being a part of a group installation makes it more impactful to each of them and it gives them a sense of purpose to serve the community.”
Barlow believes the project helps to promote creativity, positivity and community and hopes to continue the tradition for many years to come.