Bringing peace through photography

COURTNEY MIRANDA; News Editor; mirandcs@plu.edu

In a time as divisive as this, photographer John Nolter is on a mission to bring people back together. Through recognizing human differences amongst us, Nolter is highlighting the similarities in our human search for peace. Nolter’s multimedia art exhibit titled “A Peace of My Mind” is coming to Pacific Lutheran University March 11-16.

“There is a hunger for conversations that can help us connect with one another,” Nolter said. “We are looking for ways to work toward solutions in the world and ‘A Peace of My Mind’ is a tool to do that.”

Nolter has been sharing stories with his images and words on a national scale for 20 years. His work has been featured in Fortune 500 companies, national magazines and non-profit organizations. His work appearing in National Geographic Traveler, Forbes Magazine, Midwest Living and the New York Daily News.

There is a hunger for conversations that can help us connect with one another.

-John Nolter

There will be several opportunities for students to engage with the exhibit. A scavenger hunt throughout the week will encourage students to find stories and portraits that highlight people they wouldn’t normally interact with. It’s a chance to explore the world in new ways through understanding people’s experiences.

“A Peace of My Mind” is an integrative project that encourages students to connect with others in various ways. The exhibit is centered around the question of “What does peace mean to you?” and how these stories represent human intersectionality. Nolter designed these stories to encourage dialogue about race, diversity and social justice.

Hannah Peterson, a junior at PLU and an active participant in several facets of campus life, including Reserve Officers’ Training Corp and Associated Students of PLU, has worked with Nolter in the past. After meeting Nolter in Holden Village, Peterson worked with ASPLU and the Diversity, Justice and Sustainablity grant team to fund this opportunity for PLU.

“There’s all of these PLU specific divides that are around, and I see those reflected in the bigger picture,”Peterson said. “So when I met John this summer, [I found that] his project was very relevant and salient to those divides.”

Peterson sees this exhibit as an excuse for students to find those empathetic connections between humans and focus on what brings us together rather than what separates us.

“It’s the idea that everyone is looking for [peace] and on a mission to do that,”Peterson said. “Through storytelling, people can recognize that we share a common humanity in the search.”

The exhibit of portraits and stories will be available in the lobby of Olson Auditorium and upper floors of Mortvedt Library—this portion of the event will include the scavenger hunt for students.

Through storytelling, people can recognize that we share a common humanity in the search.

-Hannah Peterson

There will be a photobooth Tuesday March 13 in the Anderson University Center Grey Area between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Students can have their portrait taken and be asked to respond to a community question. Nolter will edit these and leave them here for the students and those comfortable with it can have their photos displayed throughout campus.

Nolter will have a keynote speech in AUC 133,Thursday March 15 at 6 p.m. Throughout the week, forums and small group discussions will be scheduled, though the exact dates and times are still to be determined at the time of this publication.

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