Peace Haven Partners with Principia Artists

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Principia student and alumni art is prominently on display at Peace Haven Association, a Christian Science nursing facility in St. Louis. Continuing a long tradition of partnership, Peace Haven showcased many Principia artists when it was time to put the finishing touches on its newly completed 44,500-square-foot building.

From a collection of colored-pencil drawings of intricate flowers by third graders to a towering oil landscape of a trestle bridge over the Mississippi River by a former College art professor, Principia artwork infuses the entire facility with “the healing qualities of Soul-filled beauty and inspiration,” Peace Haven Executive Director and Principia alum Leslie Gerber says.

The response from Christian Science nurses, staff, and patients goes way beyond just having aesthetically pleasing pictures on the walls of the new facility. “They love the artwork,” Gerber says. “It makes it feel like a beautiful home . . . . We looked for pieces that provide a sense of harmony and serenity—joy of the Christ presence—a vibrancy that lifts one's thought higher.”

Principia School art teachers Louise Elmgren and Caitlin Heimerl Allen worked with Peace Haven to provide a collection of artwork from current students, which is prominently displayed in the main lobby. The entire collection spans generations—from current Lower School students to well-established professional artists across the country.

“There’s this wonderful cross-pollination of art and wisdom between Principia and Peace Haven,” Elmgren says. “The project went beyond just creating a beautiful space to supporting a healing atmosphere at Peace Haven.”

Supporting Service and Community Outreach

The project fits naturally with Principia’s goals of encouraging students to offer service as a way to engage with the local community and helps deepen the art curriculum. Third graders, for example, created paintings and 3D ceramics of flowers as part of an integrated art/science project.

“You want students' work to be authentic,” Elmgren says, and the Peace Haven art installation provides a way for the students to think and see as dedicated artists rather than creating a quick drawing for the refrigerator at home. “I wanted them to slow down and spend time having a conversation with the flowers they were working with,” Elmgren says. “What’s the length of the stem? What’s the texture like?”

Principia Alumni Artists

In addition to student art, Peace Haven’s collection includes dozens of Principia alumni, faculty, and staff artists. From sunset-fired views of Mississippi River barge traffic by former Professor James Green to iconic images of Michigan’s wind-swept beaches by alum and former School housepop Paul Olsen, the collection is tightly woven with connections familiar to many Principians.

In the coming years, Peace Haven plans to rotate new works from Principia students as a continuation of its connection to the local Christian Science community.