Poems for peace: an Origami Poetry Workshop

Last summer I met the artists and co-creators of the PeaceBirds Project, Mona Shiber and JuPong Lin, who sought to "transform the agony of witnessing atrocities happening around the world"* by launching a community engaged art project involving folding doves and cranes. Their inspiration has let me to formulate this workshop.

We begin by briefly discussing peace as a remedy and a subject in poetry and free-write peace poems with the assistance of provided prompts. We then inscribe these poems on paper which we use to fold into doves. This gathering allows us to share stories and intentions surrounding peace while folding birds together to make space for healing and for the quiet contemplation needed to lean into the humanity that connects us. Some of us may fold a dove for lives gone too soon while remembering that peace may exist within. Others may send up supplications for peace with…