Peace Poles add color to this Johnson County park. Project spreads a kind message

The modern peace sign has been an iconic symbol since the late 1950s.

Now the City of Lenexa has on display another take on conveying peace: colorfully decorated poles created by local artists. Through the summer, 37 poles have been on display at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park as part of the Peace Poles Community Art Project.

Two additional poles are on display at the Lenexa Civic Campus to help promote the exhibit. The public’s last chance to see the exhibit comes at the end of the month. The poles will remain on display at the park through Oct. 31.

The purpose of the Peace Pole Project is to inspire peace, hope, creativity and community involvement, according to Lenexa Recreation Supervisor Susanne Neely.

“The Lenexa Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Western Johnson County approached the city early in 2020 with the idea of planting a peace pole somewhere within the city to serve as a daily reminder that goodness comes from acts of kindness and that peace comes from goodness,” Neely said. “Parks & Recreation met with the Rotary clubs and brainstormed ideas, which led to this exhibit.”

The Lenexa Arts Council also joined the planning team, providing expertise, guidance and assistance with the exhibit.

“We feel like this was the perfect project at the perfect time because the exhibit offers messages of peace and hope during challenging times,” Neely said. “We were still in the middle of the pandemic when we announced the call for artists.”

In the fall of 2020, a call went out for submissions for designs from local artists and community groups seeking original designs that conveyed some concept of peace within words or artistic elements. Those submitting works did not have be Lenexa residents.

Once the submissions were in, a jury committee made up of members from the participating Rotary clubs, the arts council, as well as Lenexa’s Parks and Recreation Department, reviewed the entries for quality, creativity, originality and a message of peace. Thirty-seven poles were selected and installed at the park. The two additional poles at the civic center were not part of the design competition; they were created by arts council member Judy Tuckness and Neely’s family.

“Community members loved the opportunity to work individually or in their small groups to create their unique artistic designs and share their messages of peace,” Neely said.

The artists reflected a cross-section of the community. They included former and current artists at Hallmark Cards, professional and amateur artists, an architect, a social worker and a few local Girl Scout Troops.

The 18 members of Girl Scout Troop 1790, based at Mill Creek Elementary School, worked in four small groups to come up with the design for their pole.

“Our whole troop talked about what peace means and how we can all help to spread peace in the world,” said Karen Archer, troop leader.

“One group wanted to encourage others to dream of peace by flying with a bee and a butterfly around a rainbow that connects the words ‘hope’ and ‘kindness.’ The second group chose the word ‘unique’ to illustrate the different ways individuals can use their own strengths and interests to encourage peace. Group three chose to paint a sun, reminding others to shine, setting over waves of peace.

“The last group focused on finding peace by exploring the world around us. The whole design works together to share a message of peace from the girls of our troop to the entire world.”

Artist Andy Handwork’s Peace Pole won the Best of Show honors. It includes signs on the top with city names pointing in different directions. Handwork’s inspiration came from the popular TV show “M*A*S*H”, which featured a sign post at the beginning of each episode showing how far soldiers were from their hometowns.

Handwork has a bachelor of fine arts degree in print making, illustration and ceramics, but art is now a hobby for him. He worked with Neely on his own art show in the Lenexa City Gallery a few years ago.

“She always keeps me updated on new projects I may be interested in (and) this was definitely one of those projects,” Handwork said.

Handwork has enjoyed having his Peace Pole on display for the public to see.

“I’m really just glad nobody smashed the Russia or China sign,” he said with a chuckle.

Neely said the public has enjoyed the unique display in the city park.

“We have received a great deal of positive feedback from visitors to the park who appreciate the creative display and messages of peace,” Neely said.

Once the exhibit is over on Halloween, artists will be given the chance to touch up their poles, if they wish. The poles will be sold through a silent and live auction hosted by the Rotary clubs from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Lenexa City Hall. The public is invited to attend the auction. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Project 1020, which is based in Lenexa and is Johnson County’s only shelter for adults experiencing homelessness.

For more information on the auction, visit www.lenexa.com.