After it became clear last November that prosecutors wouldn't be charging Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, peaceful protest gave way to anger — and among the innocent victims were business owners in Ferguson and on St. Louis' Grand Boulevard. While a community seethed, glass storefronts were shattered. But by the very next morning, a loosely affiliated group of local artists was already making plans to turn tragedy into artistic opportunity, setting out to cover boarded-up glass with plywood art. The cheerful designs didn't just provide a message of resilience — they became a draw, bringing much-needed foot traffic to South Grand during a difficult time. Nearly one year after glass was smashed and Ferguson burned, the art has inspired a book and has been chosen for inclusion at a Ferguson-related archive at the Missouri History Museum, a fitting tribute to the important role these local artists played in keeping spirits hopeful during some very dark days. www.paintforpeacestl.org.