HISTORY

It began almost twenty-five years ago, when Rev. James Bristah and Emily (Jo) Bristah decided to start an organization devoted to creating a more peaceful and just world through the arts. Through the efforts of countless community members and volunteers, Swords Into Plowshares remains an exhilarating space and home to exhibits, concerts, forums, poetry readings and story-telling throughout the year.

An excerpt, from our very first newsletter :

Vol. I, No. I
November 1986

How It All Started

"Out of a weekend study on Peace, at Central United Methodist Church, the idea of the Swords Into Plowshares Peace Center germinated. It was decided not just to study, but to do something. And this was to do something different, but not just to be different. The several arts are very powerful forms of influence and persuasion. Why not yoke them with the imperative need for Peace in the world? A commercial, street-access facility of Central was at the time unused.

So the Gallery and Center was begun just about a year ago now. Since it was something new for us, we started slowly with a first exhibit using the Ribbons that went from Michigan to surround the Pentagon and other Washington buildings in August 1985. Work was begun at fixing up the Gallery and building shelves for the Reference Library. There is still work to be done renovating other parts of the facility, and a major task of rewiring.

By spring, we were ready to let the larger community know about us. So we invited Dr. Benjamin Spock to help have a 'Grand Opening' on June 13, 1986. The S.I.P.P.C became the latest expression of Central United Methodist Church, which has been a Peace Church for nearly fifty years."

In Dr. Spock's words, "[May] those who shape it and those who use it be inspired as they express the universal longing for peace through the universal language of art."