Artist Matt Lamb, a self-taught painter, congratulated Nancy Young Elementary students on creating their umbrellas and then led the schoolwide parade.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
The morning's rainfall was perfectly fitting as about 800 Nancy Young Elementary students recently participated in the school's Umbrellas for Peace parade.
Students worked for a week to decorate their umbrellas with their personal views of peace, tolerance and love. Then they paraded their works around the school.
The initiative began as a Congressional mandate to aid orphans of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In May 2002, 38 children of victims of the tragedy gathered with contemporary artist Matt Lamb in a three-day workshop to express feelings and dreams in colorful ways onto umbrellas.
A parade followed with displays on Capitol Hill and the children touring the White House. Since that time more than 500,000 children and adults in 16 countries have participated in the "Lamb Umbrellas for Peace" projects.
Students' individual visions of peace and harmony took many forms including the sun, stars, rainbows and other colorful expressions.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
Students worked for a week to decorate their umbrellas with their personal views of peace, tolerance and love.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
There were enough suns and rainbows painted on umbrellas to brighten an otherwise dreary morning.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
More than 800 students and their umbrellas participated in Nancy Young's Umbrellas for Peace parade.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
About 800 Nancy Young Elementary students in Aurora made umbrellas for peace as part of a nationwide art project and paraded them around the school.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer