‘This whole project is to remember the voiceless and forgotten civilians caught up in war and conflict.' Photo: Pity of War maquette
Eye - 12 January 2024
From A bunch of interesting stuff to Weapons to wings
A bunch of interesting stuff
Barbara Mayhew, of Bury St Edmunds Meeting, recently reported that her grandson William, aged ten, was heard saying this about the Quakers: ‘My Granny does a bunch of interesting stuff. She goes to the Quakers, which is quite cool – they are rather like the Boy Scouts and the Silent Library Club, except more interesting. They talk about world problems and sometimes they even solve them!’
A moving maquette
In recent years an ecumenical project arising from a Quaker concern has been taking shape, to install a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to raise awareness of the impact of war on civilians (to find out more see ‘Art of the possible: The Pity of War Working Group’ 8 July 2023).
Barbara Mark, of Ludlow Meeting, got in touch with Eye to share some exciting developments.
She writes: ‘Southern Marches Area Meeting organised for a Pity of War maquette [a small preliminary model of a sculpture, see photo below] to be displayed at Hereford Cathedral between 26 October and 11 November [2023]. We had organised this last year but the significance of this display this year is all too pertinent.
‘This whole project is to remember the voiceless and forgotten civilians caught up in war and conflict. With the loss of civilian lives in Israel and Gaza at the moment it becomes all too real.
‘The Cathedral moved the maquette, after the first day, because they realised that people were wanting to stay longer to view the artwork and reflect. They became aware of how important it was to people. It was moved to the South Transept where there were chairs available to sit and where it was much more visible. It was also the starting place for guided tours and where the morning communion service was held. The Pity of War maquette has become a place where people can grieve for the loss of life in all the wars around the world just now, from Yemen to Ukraine.
‘The full sized sculpture will be going up very soon at the National Memorial Arboretum.’
Weapons to wings
Jane Robinson, of Bolton Meeting’s clerking team, shared a photo of Young Friends from the Meeting visiting a moving memorial.
She writes: ‘The Knife Angel statue is touring Britain. It is constructed from over 100,000 knives seized or handed in to the police and is carrying a message of nonviolence and the danger of knives. It also acts as a memorial to celebrate lives lost through violent and thoughtless actions.’
During November the statue was on display in Bolton town centre.
Bolton Council’s website explained: ‘The National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, Knife Angel... was specifically created by the artist Alfie Bradley to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour whilst addressing our need for social change. The purpose of the Angel is to act as a catalyst for turning the tide on violent and aggressive behaviour and serves as a beautiful memorial designed to celebrate those lives that have been lost through violent and thoughtless actions.’
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