Rehab patients at Pate’s Brinlee Creek Ranch location have found a new pursuit. They’re making peace pole art.
Peace poles are markers covered in messages and artwork depicting the message of peace. From a few feet high to over 52 feet, wooden peace poles dot landscapes around the world.
“The idea for Pate peace pole art came from two places – the traditional peace poles that you see in people’s yards and the Pegasus horses that you see around Dallas,” said Jennifer Featherston, PhD, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at Pate’s Brinlee Creek Ranch treatment location. She’s the creative mind behind the new program, inspired by Dallas’s project of distributing art around the city starring local mascot Pegasus, the winged horse.
“The traditional peace polls are an outward sign of one’s support of a cause – peace. The Dallas Pegasus horses show support for the city but are unique to the artist in how they are adorned and show the personality of the creator. So they are each unique but show solidarity in a cause. Pate Peace Poles will all be unique but recognizable in the community as signs of support for brain injury survivors, their families and organizations that provide for them.”
Yes, they’re beautiful. But peace pole art creation does much more for the artist, including flexing concentration and absorption skills.
“The design and creation of the poles allows for therapeutic expression for the patients that work on them, as well as a sense of community and purpose,” said Jennifer.
“Many patients of all different ability levels work together to create the poles, while others want to create their own. For everyone involved, there is a sense of accomplishment when they are completed and displayed.”
You’ll be able to view the poles at Brinlee Creek Ranch soon. “We will be installing several poles on the BCR property but are hoping to begin selling them in the community as we finish more,” said Jennifer.