We were deeply honored to learn yesterday that "Painting for Peace in Ferguson" has been honored with a national gold-medal for being named one of only nine "Outstanding Books of the year for 2015" out of an application pool of 6,000 by the Independent Publisher, a journal dedicated to reviewing and recognizing the works of independent book houses around the country.
Each year, the national organization releases the "IPPYs," honoring works in a variety of categories and Painting for Peace in Ferguson received the award in the Peacemaker category.
What is really heartening about this national recognition is that it honors St. Louis and the Ferguson community for what its people came out and did. This book is a complete product of the St. Louis community. Everything about it — the writers, printers, artists, the photographers, the donors, the entire team — is about St. Louis. It just shows what a great community this is.
And what a St. Louis dream team it is!
Publisher: Kristina Blank Makansi, Layla Dog Press.
Design and photography: Robert O'Neil, Michael Kilfoy and Steve Archer.
Printing: The Advertisers Printing Company.
Publicity and social media: Danni Eickenhorst, Carrie Zukoski and Kurt Greenbaum.
Author: Carol Swartout Klein.
But most of all, the 300-plus organizers, painters and volunteers who made "Painting for Peace in Ferguson" a reality.
You can find all the winners of 2015 IPPYs — the "outstanding books of the year" — on the site here. The 19th annual IPPYs will be presented on May 27 at a ceremony in New York.