We’re pleased to announce that, in partnership with North Wales Police, Coleg Cambria and the British Ironworks, the famous Knife Angel created from knives collected across the United Kingdom, will at last be coming to Wrexham to Queens Square in October.
The Knife Angel is a nationally significant piece of art made from 100,000 seized knives and created by artist Alfie Bradley. It stands an impressive 27 feet tall and was designed to be effective in changing attitudes to violent behaviour and to act as a memorial designed to celebrate those whose lives have been lost through knife crime.
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Some of the blades also have inscriptions on them which are messages from families who have lost loved ones due to knife crime.
It was specifically created to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour and for the 30 days there will be a programme of workshops and visits aimed at young people in Wrexham.
“The Knife Angel is a crucially important concept”
Ian Bancroft, Chief Executive of Wrexham Council, said, “I am really pleased that we are at last able to bring the this nationally significant artwork to Wrexham. It comes with a serious message and I know there are lots of activities being prepared to ensure the Knife Angel along with its message is experienced by as many young people as possible. All members of the public will of course be able to take in the sight that will surely bring direct benefits to the town centre.”
Acting Chief Inspector Luke Hughes of North Wales Police believes “The Knife Angel is a crucially important concept and seeks to remind all of us of the potential tragedy associated with knife crime. It is incumbent on the community to come together to understand the significance of this event and use the Angel as a starting point in making North Wales an even safer place in which to live, work and visit.”
The artwork was originally intended to be in Wrexham in July 2020 but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Wrexham the Knife Angel has inspired the partners to create it’s own sculpture which is is under construction at the Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site, where students and staff will spend the next year welding and fabricating submitted items – including blades and knuckle dusters – onto a steel frame.
Assistant Principal for the Institute of Technology and Site Lead at Bersham Road Karl Jackson said: “This statue will form the centrepiece for multi-agency work that will inform and educate in an effort to maintain low instances and reduce occurrences of knife crime in the area.
Guy Vine, Young People’s Mentor paid tribute to Youth Justice Service and Youth Service who were key to bringing the Knife Dragon project together, he said, “Without their support and passion to do something positive the group would never have got off the ground. Now the Dragon is in production they, like us all, look forward to its completion and unveiling.”
You can read more about this here.
Bydd draig gyllyll yn cael ei defnyddio fel arf ar gyfer addysg.
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