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Standard Bearers For Peace

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Todd Ramquist straps another peace sign to the top of Terri Brand's car as she leaves the Peace By Piece exhibit at Todd's Safety Harbor home.

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By STEVE KORNACKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 23, 2007

Updated: 12/22/2007 09:55 pm

SAFETY HARBOR - The 3,000 peace flags illuminated by 30,000 white lights are a glowing example of what one couple has inspired others from Tampa Bay and every continent save Antarctica to create.

There is one purple and gold cloth flag depicting the Shwedagon Buddhist temple and the message "Peace and Freedom for All." It came from Burma.

Some flags quote peace lyrics from musicians Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Elvis Costello. Others, like "Peas on Earth" with the Jolly Green Giant pouring peas onto a globe, are whimsical.

They arrive in the mail, usually about 50 per day, at the house and art studio of Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda.

"A new mailman handed me 22 pieces from Hong Kong today," Ramquist said Saturday. "He said, 'What's going on here?'"

It's a creative outpouring in response to the plea for "Peace on Earth, Peace by Piece," an effort the couple promoted via e-mail, YouTube and word of mouth during and after their mid-October vacation to Burma, which is called Myanmar by the military junta in control of the country.

"It was gut-wrenching," Kiaralinda said. "We heard the stories of people who disagree with the government just disappearing, and were told of the monks being killed. We saw a lot of tears and that made us cry."

Tears welled in their eyes while recalling it.

"They have no hope," Kiaralinda said.

Ramquist added, "We met a soldier and the son of a politician in Turkey who told us, 'Artists and writers change the world. Why don't you do something for these people?'"

So the two twisted-wire artists made their plea for art, and are accepting donations from those visiting that will go to an orphanage in Burma. They will turn the lights on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1 at their tin-roofed bungalow painted in more than 50 colors at 1206 3rd St. North.

The display was created by artists from 22 countries. Students from Carrollwood, Safety Harbor, Clearwater and Largo have contributed.

Ramquist said 2,000 have visited since they opened the display Monday, noting that some have visited every night. He was stapling new flags onto rows of string supported by metal poles, while Kiaralinda spoke with Sean Riley, 7, of New Port Richey.

Visitors are invited to create flags, and Sean drew a peace sign with the message: "I love you, Jerome." It was for his brother, Jerome Riley, 27, who is in the Army and stationed in Kuwait, awaiting assignment in Iraq.

His mother, Susan Riley, said she saw signs pointing them to the display while bringing Sean to visit his grandfather in Safety Harbor.

"I just love that they are always doing something crazy at this house," she said.

It is known as the "Bowling Ball House" because it has 700 donated bowling balls surrounding it and the landscaping. The couple call the house "Whimzey" and they put that word down their chimney.

A chandelier hangs from their huge Sabal palm tree, which has a meditation pool filled with white rose petals beneath it. There are 6-foot Tikis and two 7-foot gold hands carved from Styrofoam at the yard entrance. Their dwelling and yard have been featured on PBS, HGTV, the Travel Channel and the Discovery Channel.

They have visited more than 30 countries, and were attracted to Burma by their former neighbors. D.J. and Catherine Condon are teachers there.

Kiaralinda and Ramquist found it difficult to select their favorite peace flags, but one that came from Burma is particularly touching. It reads: "Please help save my country and family. Don't forget us."

'PEACE ON EARTH, PEACE BY PIECE'

WHAT: An illuminated display of more than 3,000 peace flags.

WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m., through Jan. 1.

WHERE: 1206 3rd St. North, Safety Harbor. Take the Courtney Campbell Causeway to McMullen-Booth Road and proceed north. Turn right on Main Street, left on 12th Avenue and left on 3rd Street.

HOW MUCH: Donations accepted to benefit a Burma orphanage.

Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at (813) 731-8170 or skornacki@tampatrib.com.

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