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Erin McCourt, senior art education major and National Art Education Association-Kent chapter president, has been working on the project for six months after she learned about it at the NAEA national conference.

“I picked up a flier and didn’t think anything of it,” McCourt said. “I did some research to see what it involved, and found out how it has the possibility to impact the community in such a positive way.”

Art education students and area teachers helped to bring more pinwheels to Kent State for the project, including a Kent State student completing her student teaching at Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine in Kenmare County Kerry, Ireland. Teachers and students from Maple Heights High School, Brighten Heights Charter School and Aurora Young Explorers Montessori School also contributed pinwheels, according to Linda Hoeptner-Poling, assistant professor of art education.

“I’m so excited about how big it has gotten,” McCourt said. “It’s something we haven’t done before, and next September I’d like to involve the city of Kent in the project as well.”

The idea behind Pinwheels for Peace is not to make a political statement, but to simply spread thoughts of peace around the world.

“I just wanted to call attention to everything the world has gone through,” McCourt said. “I want people to remember when the coolest thing about life was to color with crayons. Maybe something as small as a pinwheel can make that happen.”

Contact School of Art reporter Sarah Lack at [email protected].