The CareFlags Project began as an effort to address the experiences that were swirling around the 9-11 events, various global conflicts, human rights conflict, and urgent issues of environmental sustainability. It was initiated by the Center for the Creative Arts Therapies (CCAT) at First Night-Santa Rosa, 2002, a community celebration on New Year's Eve sponsored by the Cultural Arts Council of Sonoma County. To date, artists from ages 30 to 93 have created almost 3000 flags at over 35 community events.

The original concept of doing the flags at First Night was envisioned by Suzanne Lovell, founder of CCAT and director of the Art Therapy Eduation Program, along with Tina Dungan, ATEP Administrator. Lucas Plumb, CCAT Vice President, coordinated the event and is now the collection's curator.

In creating the flag painting, CCAT took its inspiration from the traditional prayer flags, which have a long, meaningful history and are often asssociated with eastern Asian cultures. CCAT has re-imagined the purpose of these sacred flags, asking the people in North Bay communities to join in their creation, and hopes to gather enough CareFlags to fly from the Pacific Ocean at the west end of Sonoma County to the Napa County line. This would require approximately 35,000 flags.

The CareFlags Project has given those who have created the flags an opportunity to image what they feel is most important for the world and to paint it onto a fifteen inch square piece of material. The art-makers donate their work to the project so that these flags may fly as a unique and colorful gift of imagination to their community, as well as an expanded vision for their world. The flags are then flown at various community events including exhibits, dedications, speakers, weddings, rallies, Ciquo de Mayo, and memorials such as the ones held for Hirshima & Nagasaki, 9-11, and Martin Luther King. The CareFlags have been painted and exhibited at venues such as Healdsburg Hospital and the Praxic Peace Conference held at Asilomar. The Project was part of the five-year anniversary celebration for the 2 Acre Wood Cohousing Community, and also the Woman's Peace March, which ended with a community event at Julliard Park.

To see a sampler of the CareFlags that have been painted since December 31, 2001, visit the Photo Gallery by clicking on the link below. If your organization or school is interested in painting and /or diplaying the CareFlags, or if you would like to volunteer to help with events, please contact Lucas Plumb, Coordinator at (707)494-4313. Thanks for your support of the Center for the Creative Arts Therapies

Photo Gallery