YOU'RE INVITED

Louisville Peace Piece by Piece is a two-hour community event consisting of 30 minutes of pre-programing, a 60-minute program, and 30 minutes for public contributions to the mosaic tabletop.  It will take place at 1619 FLUX, located at 1619 West Main, on Saturday, September 24 from 1:00 – 3:00pm.

 

The art and social justice mission of 1619 FLUX makes it a wonderful and appropriate location for this event.

 

Louisville Peace Piece by Piece will begin with live music performances as people gather. Food trucks will be encouraged to locate in the area.

 

A representative of the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion will provide an introduction to the event, followed by time for mindful silence for the victims and family members of Louisville community members who have been affected by violence including First Responders who have fallen as victims of violence.

 

Mayor Greg Fischer will speak explaining how non-violence lies at the heart of compassion.

 

Both Christopher 2X and Chief Steve Conrad, Louisville Metro Chief of Police, will explain the symbolism of the piece-by-piece creation of the Table of Peace mosaic that will soon occur.

 

An incomplete Table of Peace, standing vertically, will be in the center of the event space. The shape of Louisville’s symbol, a fleur-de-lis, will be incorporated into the design as the central element.

 

Twenty representatives of different groups that have suffered from violence (youth, parents, grandparents, African American, White, Hispanic, refugees, homeless individuals, police, first responders and others) will gather on either side of the monument.

 

Members of these diverse communities will approach the Table of Peace in pairs. Each pair will shake hands (or even hug) then each will pick-up a piece of colored tile and place it into the prepared adhesive within the fleur-de-lis shape. As each person approaches the Table of Peace to place his or her tile, a brief statement about their experience with violence and commitment to peace will be read. 

 

With the completion of the central fleur-de-lis design, the attending public will be invited to write the name of a murdered loved one, the name of a favorite peacemaker, or blessings of peace on an individual tile that they will we invited to put in place on the Table of Peace around the central image. 

 

A local gospel choir will emerge to sing a number of inclusive, up-lifting songs as the public completes the table.

 

Following the event, the Table of Peace will be available for use at appropriate locations supporting efforts to promote peace in Louisville. It will serve as a demonstrable commitment to peace in our community.