"Peace Mother, She of the Heart of Compassion," a mixed media sculpture byLynn Slattery Hellmuth, is an old woman who holds a world that is clearly apart of herself. "Just as all living things are physically made up of the samematter, we are also vitally interconnected and interrelated and thereforenecessary to one another for the survival of all of us," notes the artist'sstatement.

"Peaceful Actions," a computer-generated collage by Peggy Flora Zalucha,mentions the eradication of polio as "an international effort that transcendsborders and politics."

The exhibit was the idea of poets Robin Chapman and Claire Box. "Whycouldn't images of peace catch the imagination and spread as contagiously asfear?" they asked. With the help of artist Russell Gardner Jr., work wassolicited from the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and the Wisconsin Paintersand Sculptors organization.

The poetic pleas include the passionate "let us demand that our last chancebecome our first chance for compassion," from Box's "last chance," and theeloquent "Whatever you love, begin there," from Chapman's "Finding a Way."

"Rockets blanket Hebron like cherry petals in springtime," KathrynKingsbury observes in "Holyland Sabbatical." "I know it is always the firstday for someone," acknowledges Alison Townsend, in her vivid description ofmother and newborn in "Calf Season."

David J. Meinhardt's frustration is evident in "Can Someone Explain," as in"how we dearly love our own Children/But acknowledge someone else's Childrenas Acceptable Collateral Damage."

Fran Zell's "Rock Scissors Peace" tries valiantly to simplify the solution:"Everything you need to know about making peace you could have learned infirst grade," it begins.

Particularly in-your-face is Doug E.J. Haynes' "If the Shoe Were on theOther Foot," a computer-generated local newspaper front page with "Bombs fallon Madison" as the most imposing headline. "MATC Truax: Death toll rises,""Whereabouts of governor in doubt" and "Devastating losses in Beloit andJanesville" plant an eerie but effective punch.

The exhibit will be at the Madison Central Library in September, theColucci Gallery at West High School in November and the Middleton Library inDecember and January 2004.

Exhibit coordinators welcome contributions from other artists and writers.If interested, send an e-mail to Gardner at rgj999@yahoo.com.

Artwork is for sale, but organizers suggest that the artist/writer shouldfeel obligated to replace their contribution if a sale takes place.

This part of Goodnight Hall, the reception/waiting area for the UW's Speechand Hearing Clinics, is open weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.