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Apr 20, 2007 12:14 am US/Central
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Artist Dedicates Work To Peace
by Heather Brown
(WCCO)
Nell Hillsley has been painting for almost three-quarters of a century. Now, she wants to dedicate the remainder of her art to peace. She plans to sell more than 150 pieces of artwork at a show this weekend.
"I decided watching the world in the past few years and the last few days with the tragedy in this country that underlying everything is the need for peace," she said. "I thought what could I possibly do. I wouldn't have the guts to be a peacemaker even if I were younger."
All of the proceeds will go the Minnesota non-profit Nonviolent Peaceforce. They build unarmed civilian peace teams around the world.
She paints flowers, fruits, nudes and abstract art. Her favorite piece is a large landscape canvas that shows a fence with gaps to pass through.
"I believe that we all have barriers in life that are really difficult, so the fences represent the barriers that we all encounter. But, you see, I've got spaces and you can get around those usually with enough faith," she said.
Hillsley is nearly 80-years-old, but looks closer to 60. She's worked in poverty programs for years and now wants the Nonviolent Peaceforce to succeed.
They currently have a group working in Sri Lanka.
"A group of mothers came to them and said our children have been abducted into the Tamil Tiger army and we need them home," she recalled.
Hillsley said the peace team helped the mothers approach the militants. They eventually released 100 children.
"That, to me, is worth all of the peaceforce," she said. "It's been the most joyful thing I've ever done."
Her art show will kickoff Friday night at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Mark near Loring Park. The cost to attend Friday is $20. It will continue Saturday and Sunday. Those days will be free of charge.
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