Swenson Fine Art Gallery Welcomes Matt Lamb Umbrellas for Peace

Sunday at , gallery owner Laurie Swenson placed chocolate cookies, gallons of paint, brushes and red umbrellas onto a large table. She was hosting a Matt Lamb Umbrellas for Peace project and showing an exhibition of Lamb's paintings. 

She invited friends, family and passersby to come into the gallery, nibble on cookies and paint red umbrellas with symbols of whatever the word PEACE meant to them. 

"This was something I wanted to be a part of," said Swenson, "spreading hope and peace, which the planet needs gravely today. It's an honor for me to have Matt Lamb's work here."

According to Lamb's website, these events are "a manifestation of the individual bringing peace throughout their world that they live in." And Swenson, who deals with art every day, wanted to promote that marriage of creativity and peace.

Dave Trotter, Executive Director of Matt Lamb Studios, was on hand to praise Swenson for debuting Lamb's work in Southern California.

"Matt Lamb's art is international and is in museums and galleries worldwide. Lori Swenson was kind enough to allow us to [use Swenson Fine Art as] the first gallery in Southern California to show Matt Lamb's works."

Trotter explained how the Umbrellas for Peace project began.

"Starting two days after [September 11, 2001]," said Trotter, "Matt Lamb ... was invited and jet-escorted to the White House, and then to the Pentagon to help the children who had lost their parents in the Pentagon [attack]. From that moment on, when they actually paraded to the song When The Saints Go Marching In with umbrellas, it has then blossomed into a national and international program."

Since that time, more than 2 million individuals in 29 countries have joined in the Umbrellas for Peace project. They have painted umbrellas and paraded through cities from Israel to Japan, Vietnam to Russia, and France to Argentina.

Nicolas Radisay brought his son Sterling, 7, to paint on a peace umbrella. Nicolas explained why the two of them came to Swenson Fine Art.

"It's always about the kids," said Nicolas. "Kids first, and the fact that it's [painting] on something [other than] canvas ... a kind of a different medium. This is about community participation. Peace always begins with community, right?"

Swenson invites everyone to come by and visit this week while Lamb's works hang in her gallery, located across the street from the . For more information, call 949-376-1122 or visit her website right here.