In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word. On September 21, 2016, the Class of 2020 at Canfield High School will take part in an International art and literacy project, Pinwheels for Peace by “planting” pinwheels with messages of peace at Canfield High School on the front lawn.
The freshmen class will create pinwheels, pinwheels of all shapes and sizes – as part of the creation process, the students will write their thoughts about "war and peace / tolerance/ living in harmony with others" on one side. On the other side, they will draw, paint, collage, etc. to visually express their feelings. The students will assemble these pinwheels and on International Day of Peace they will "plant" their pinwheels as a public statement and art exhibit/installation.
Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two Art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, of Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. In the first year, groups in over 1,325 locations throughout the world were spinning pinwheels on September 21st - there were approximately 500,000 pinwheels spinning throughout the world. Last year (year 10), 2015, over 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.