May 20, 2009
Knife sculpture unveiled
Knife crime is high on the agenda of politicians and the police. A group of young people in Easterhouse decided to make their own positive contribution to the debate by adopting a more creative approach. A batch of knives which has been confiscated by police have been melted down and transformed into an eye-catching sculpture.
To see image of sculpture : http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/largeimage.php?imid=1099654
YOUNGSTERS in Glasgow have turned weapons into an eye-catching design.
The sharp-looking sculpture on an outside wall of The Hub in Easterhouse has been made from knives confiscated by police then melted down.
Wellhouse Community Trust held a competition to pick the best idea.
The winning design was thought up by local girls Joanne Flood, Ashley Lawson and Emma Blaney.
Designer Joanne Flood, 17, said: “We decided we wanted to do something different and the fact the sculpture is made from confiscated knives shows how much we, as young people, want to change people’s perceptions of the area and of the other young people in Easterhouse.
“We’ve proved that something positive can come out something negative and that young people want to make these changes.”
Pauline Smith, manager of Wellhouse Community Trust, said: “This has been a brilliant project to develop. The three young girls have been so enthusiastic from beginning to end.
“In addition to the sculpture we have created two trophies out of the melted down knives. The young people have decided to award one to a local person who has done a lot for the community and another as a winning trophy for a football tournament.
“The football tournament will be formed from the Edinburgh Road Corridor Project that we operate which includes six neighbourhoods in the East End. We aim to make this an annual award.”
Joe Williamson, director of Wellhouse Housing Association, said: “Projects like this prove Wellhouse is a thriving community.”
The young designers teamed up with Easterhouse Arts Company for guidance on what would work best for the space available and created 10 different designs.
These ideas were then put to the community to vote for their favourite.
An RBS Community Cash Award from the Prince’s Trust Scotland gave the team the funding it required to secure materials, artists and support marketing activity