Image: British-Ironwork-Centre
A sculpture which aims to raise awareness of the negative effects of violence and aggression has gone on display in the centre of Taunton as part of a nationwide tour.
The Knife Angel stands at 27 ft tall, weighs 3.5 tonnes, and was designed by artist, Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre using 100,000 knives and blades retrieved from amnesty bins from across all 43 UK police forces. It will be inTaunton for a month.
Taunton Minster is working collaboratively with other organisations in the town to support the work of anti-violence campaigners such as the Somerset campaigner Adam Fouracre, who is the CEO of charity Stand Against Violence, and the Barnaby Webber Foundation. Together they are using the time the Knife Angel is in the town to encourage a 30-day campaign of anti-conflict awareness raising with schools, community groups and local businesses.
An angel wings art project for children together with a large canvas which has been created by GoCreate artists Jenny Keogh, Janet Glynn-Smith and Vanessa Snowdon-Carr will be inside the Minster for the next 30 days. The canvas pictured below, depicts a pair of painted wings. The artists worked with young people and people living with dementia and their caregivers at Arts Hub Taunton to create a feathers which were then incorporated into the angel wings to symbolize the community pulling together in difficult times.
People are also encouraged to add a ribbon of reflection to designated areas outside the Minster and the Knife Angel site on Castle Green.
The Minster will be open for people who want to have a moment of quiet reflection or to light a candle and a closing vigil for the event will be held at the Minster on the evening of Tuesday 30 April.
