The Peace Wire Project

An ongoing series project spreading peace and love through photography and conversation. The Peace Wire Project originally began in 2007 on the streets of Downtown San Diego as part of a college photography class. The project has continued on, and as of May 2017, over 900 people have held The Peace Wire -- a twisted piece of wire symboling communication and connection. Currently, San Diego based Carl Richardson continues this project in honor of his wife Krista Richardson, who passed away July 2017.  

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Barrett Williams

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Larry Kaplan

 What is your definition of peace?

A: Where you fundamentally respect the dignity of human life, not in other people, a lot of people define peace as the space between wars, I don’t see it take way. I really think it’s a fundamental attitude where, you look at live, and yes, you have your point of view, but it’s based on your experience.   What you were taught and what your experiences were.  Other people have different point of view based on different experiences, but what you have in common is that your both human beans.  To me peace is, even though we understand the universe differently, (and Gaudi talked about people being in a different universe), that we understand how precious human life is and above whatever we think what reality is, we have a fundamental respect for each other’s human life’s, we are the creators in what we have experienced, and a sources of our own happiness.  Knowing that, to me peace comes from within, and it’s based fundamentally on the respect for others and human life itself.

 What brings you the most peace?

A: I would have to say that it is spiritual, I happen to practice Christianity and Buddhism together, and to me spirituality is, kind of the things I have described, getting myself to not get  caught up in the things of my head, and taking a step back, and feel my connectedness with everything around me.  I do that through prayer as a Christian and I do that through a Buddhist chant called Na Me Ho It Na Me, I chant a that is the title of the Lotus Sutra. It’s what I study in Buddhism, and again I touched on the dignity of human life. Everyone fundamentally has a Buddha nature. What happened is that we all get caught up in our deals in our heads, we have a lot of Illusions.  Those distract us from the stigmata of human life. So, what gives me peace is the stepping back from all the noise in my head, instead of letting my mind master me, I am mastering my mind, and reflect on how precious everything is and appreciate what I have right in front of me at that moment. That what gives me peace.

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Estelle Blough

What is your definition of Peace?

A: Being content with your life and everyone around you, and being ok with your issues and working through them.  

What brings you the most Peace?

A:  Family and friends and stuff around me that makes me happy.

What kind of stuff would that be?

A: Hanging out with my friends, the beach, sunsets, and flowers.

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David Drew

What is your definition of Peace?

Being happy with everything I have

What brings you the most peace?

I have to be at peace to spread peace.

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Brynn Johnson

What is your definition of Peace?

That everyone is content and not harboring anger or wanting to hurt anyone else.

What brings you the most peace?

Sharing wonderful experiences with everyone, and looking around and feeling great about where I am.

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Sean Bartlett

What is your definition of peace?

A: The ongoing experience of connectedness, the ability to transcend your ties or identity to what you think you are, and enter into a place of oneness.

What brings you the most peace?

A: Playing music brings me the most peace.

What about Music does it for you?

A: Well I play the ukulele, and when I am playing, and I am completely free balling it, you know playing with no structure, I enter into the really, really peaceful flow state where the self disappears and my fingers are just moving, this is where there is freedom through discipline, this is where I find the most peace. 

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Danielle Blum

What is your definition of peace?

A: Harmony, two hearts going into harmonious frequency together and there is a deeper understanding, peace between two humans, there is a deeper understanding within ourselves that we are the same, and peacefulness in nature is the quiet serene feeling, where there are no thoughts, and you just feel deeply connected to the greater life force that's surrounding us.  

What brings you the most peace?

A: When I am surrounded by the people I love the most, that love me. And we are in deep, and authentic connection, and ideally we are somewhere in nature

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Desmond Dixon

What is your definition of peace?

A: It can be internal, which can be enlightenment, this is when you don't allow your thoughts or external influences to shape how you view the world and how you view yourself, it is when you can this infinite love to others, and its unconditional, where you can see everyone's point of view, there is a oneness.  So when I think of peace, i think of this over joy, love and happiness, next level period of mindfulness, that few get to experience.  

What brings you the most peace?

A: When I can help others, I can empower others, if I could save one thing or be a certain shift to help them or inspire others.  I would say, that is what brings me the most Peace, Joy,  and the most unconditional love, is when I can take a stand for others, or do what I can for others.

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Amanda Morris

What is your definition of Peace?

A: Just being able to be, and having everyone else being able to just be. 

What brings you the most peace?

A:Being around people I can be 100% myself with, and being in nature.

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Marcos Sanchez

What is your definition of Peace?

A: Everyone getting along

What brings you the most peace?

A: Activity, doing stuff, doing things…

What Kinds of things?

A: Surfing, Hiking, and being out in Nature.

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Racheal P.

What is your definition of peace?

A: No wars, and no necessary fighting.  

What brings you the most peace?

A: The wilderness 

What about it?

A: Lack of other people. 

[thepeacewire]

What is your definition of Peace?

A:I think there are two different kinds; Internal peace, Having mental and physical clarity in your life, this is how we create peace internally, then there is external peace, and this is how we interact with the people around us, peace is having all the needs met, and being able to live in the community, and get along with the people around us.  

What brings you the most Peace?

A: Being with the people that I love, Laughing, and having mental clarity. 

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Oscar Ruvalcaba

What is your definition of Peace?

A: Everyone being genuine to each other, just whatever that is, whether it's giving, or if its  receiving.  I know it's hard to believe that, because a lot of people won't do one, or won't do both, but I think everyone being able to help each other in a positive way, i think that is a good definition of peace.  

What Brings you the most Peace?

A: I would say….. When Im here, when Im here with Landon, when I come back from Texas to California, I'm always telling people around me, “Aaww, I’m going back” and they can see it in my face, you love it over there.  This is where is grew up, and this is where my people are, I think I find peace when Im around people who genuinely care about me, and I can be myself, and I like it when people can be themselves around me, this is what brings me peace. 

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Krista’s 31st Birthday

Sept 17th

This year, for Krista’s birthday we took a trip to Yosemite, somewhere we both loved going.  And to honor her this year, Her Peace Wire accompanied me to the top of Cathedral Peak, high above Tuolumne Meadows. John Muir wrote in ‘My first summer in the Sierra,’ this description:

The body of the Cathedral is nearly square, and the roof slopes are wonderfully regular and symmetrical, the ridge trending northeast and southwest. This direction has apparently been determined by structure joints in the granite. The gable on the northeast end is magnificent in size and simplicity, and at its base there is a big snow-bank protected by the shadow of the building. The front is adorned with many pinnacles and a tall spire of curious workmanship. Here too the joints in the rock are seen to have played an important part in determining their forms and size and general arrangement. The Cathedral is said to be about eleven thousand feet above the sea, but the height of the building itself above the level of the ridge it stands on is about fifteen hundred feet. 

I ended up climbing the mountaineers route alone, but I knew she was with me the whole time.  I ended up solo assisting the last 100’ with two sings and cams for safety, finishing off with a small chimney to the top, where I spent about 3 mins in silence spending with her and shooting photos, before the wind and the cold turned me back.  

This year I dedicate this climb to her, continuing the adventure, getting out of our comfort zones, and pursuing happiness, joy, and Peace. 

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Chris Rheaume

What is your definition of Peace?

A:  Peace is when you feel at one with your surroundings, I think of nature, and that is what teaches us about peace.  Living in Harmony with the natural world.  

What brings you the most Peace?

A: Again, Time spent in the natural world, with people I care about.  My husband and friends, this is what brings me the most peace.  

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Matheus Malavazzi

What is your definition of Peace?

A: I think Peace is when you are content with the present without thinking of the past or the future, completely content with the situation, what is currently happening around you right now.  

What brings you the most Peace?

A: The most peace i have know, was i was far away in the middle of the ocean, far from everything.  What brings me the most peace, i don't know, on a daily basis, living in the present, realize where I am, how i am, and be proud of it.