Spotlight on Statues: The Worker Bee made out of Surrendered & Confiscated Guns & Knives

The towering structure has taken two years to make...

By Manchester's Finest | 8 September 2022

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The British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire hit the national headlines back in 2017 with their massive, thought-provoking ‘Knife Angel‘ artwork – a 27ft structure crafted out of 100,000 knives that were surrendered to police forces across the country.

Well, they’ve followed it up with something else – probably the meanest, baddest, hardest looking bee you’ll ever see – made entirely from parts of guns and knives.

Teaming up with Greater Manchester Police, the giant bee sculpture has been made using deadly weapons surrendered and confiscated off the streets of Manchester – and is set to be used as a thought-provoking educational tool and spread an anti-violence message.

The Knife Angel // @britishironworkcentre
@britishironworkcentre

The concept of the bee was created to make the sculpture easily transportable, fitting on the back of a trailer so that it can visit communities and schools across the country much quicker and easier than the Angel. It’s already believed that the Bee has visited a school in Denton.

Clive Knowles, chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, said that West Mercia Police has also expressed an interest in hosting the sculpture, as have a number of other institutions, including several prisons.

He said: “Once Greater Manchester Police have finished their anti-violence campaign with the monument, it’s hoped that the Bee will journey on to all four corners of the UK.”

@britishironworkcentre

He continued: “It speaks for itself. It is absolutely stunning and it relates to Manchester. I am thrilled with it. I am also enormously proud of the fact we have now found a solution for all of the towns that find it difficult to host the angel.”

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www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk