About the Winter 2025–26 Cover
by Barb King
This article originally appeared in theWinter 2025-26 issue of Art with Altitude.
Peace is a precarious endeavor, much like a game of Jenga teetering on uneven and unpredictable ground. Each block carefully placed or removed represents a delicate negotiation, a fragile agreement, or a hard-won compromise. The slightest tremor, an unexpected shift in the landscape, or a misstep by any player can send the entire structure crashing down, shattering the illusion of stability. Illustration by Jon Ringbom, photograph by Barb King.
Peace, that’s a tough one. We, as a nation, are more divided than I can ever remember in my lifetime. Differing viewpoints seem to widen daily, with a reluctance to truly listen. Lines are being drawn. I feel as a nation, we are being told to identify with our specific groups, to defend our particular interests. People with differing views are considered enemies. We don’t have to agree to understand each other.
I recall my father-in-law getting deeply upset when he felt people were being intolerant. I would tease him, saying he was tolerant of everyone … except intolerant people. I think his frustration stemmed from a genuine desire for understanding, yet even his well-intentioned stance could be seen as rigid by those with opposing views.
True peace isn’t the absence of disagreement; it’s the presence of respect, even in the face of our differences. It’s about seeking common ground through honest, open dialogue, even when the path is uneven and the subject matter uncomfortable. Peace is not a static state but a fragile, balancing act. It requires the active participation, empathy, and commitment of everyone.
