ARtful Voices Creative Schools Initiative
From May to July 2024 we engaged with students of Luton to write a message from the Knife Angel on what The Knife Angel may feel and see on it's journey across the town visiting communities. in the form form of Poetry, Spoken Word, Rap or a speech. Some students also chose to add artwork to convey their message.
Hearing our Youth Voice is important to finding solutions.
The work that was produced was thoughtful and insightful, here is a small selection, please keep checking back as we update more of the work that was presented.
it only takes one person for change to start
Molly McKinnon
ARtful Winners
1st Place - Forged by Blades - Zulu Idoko Year 8
In the heart of darkness,
A sculpture stands,
Knife Angel
Forged by the blades and bloodied hands.
A sentinel,
against violence's cruel tide,
It's wings unfurl - a pleas for peace worldwide.
Each blade,
a story etched in pain and strife,
a life cut short,
a family's shattered life.
But here,
they meld into a silent plea,
"Choose love, not hate; let empathy set free."
So let us raise our voices,
hearts aligned,
Against the rage that leave compassion blind.
May the Knife Angel guide us through the night,
As blessed hope takes flight.
2nd Place - The Silver Blade - Molly McKinnon - Year 7
The silver blade, shiny and bright.
Stalks us in the day and night.
Carried by those as young as ten,
Used on children, women and men.
The hand which holds the mighty blade,
Often belongs to those afraid.
Involved in gangs, drugs and strife,
Unaware of the consequence of the knife.
One thoughtless act which pierces the skin,
Takes the life of a friend, a colleague or kin.
The flesh wounds are fatal, but effects are deep,
It tears at communities, creating fear in the street.
Put down the knife and open your heart,
it only takes one person for change to start.
3rd Place - Something So Small - Tara Akinwande - Year 8
Something so small should never determine when a person takes their last breath.
Someone so small should never erase the line between life and death
Each tear collected drowns the sounds of cries
As we sit more young souls of theirs dies
Kids face double their age in jail
Mum and dad so ashamed that they can't bring their selves to bail
Why choose whether someone lies in a hospital or in their own bed?
Because of something someone might've said
Choose what type of objects you hold
Choose how someone's story gets told
Maqqari's Rap
Maqqari - Knife Angel
Maqqari entered in an school competition across Luton that engaged students with a visit of the Knife Angel to Luton and asking for poetry, rap or spoken word as a message to our community from the knife angel.
Maqqari age 12 blew us away with his rap and beat that he put together himself
Enjoy!
Knife Crime Knife Crime - Alishba - Year 8
Alishba's Artwork and Poetry
"The majority of my artwork is mostly paint despite including other medias such as brush pens and even a bit of layering. I have decided to use paint as the majority of my work as I felt it allowed me to be free with the direction and colours to express my emotions. I used my hands and fingers to create a slightly chaotic, 'foggy' effect to reflect my emotions of confusion and slight wrench.
I see knife crime as something that is not with your hands out of control because in the moment, emotions can be fogged through pain, revenge, fear, confusion or a combination of everything!
There are different scattered parts of a story from before, leading up and after using a knife.
On the top, there is the word 'FEAR' painted in a bright blue but covered up in some white to show how some carry a knife out of fear but don't realise they are a part of the problem.
On the canvas, there is also a phone that is portraying a texting conversation between an unknown person and 'Knife Crime'. In my poem, 'Knife Crime' advises the unknown person (who experiences many hardships of life) to not only take 'control' but to feel protected through weapons. Early on, 'Knife Crime' says that the knife will never be found in his 'friend'. However, that is not the case when this unknown person hurts someone resulting in murder. They soon realise that 'Knife Crime' was never trying to help and only dug them in a deeper hole. They are now stuck in a cycle of regret, anger and pain. However, as soon as they leave, they promise themselves that they will take another turn in life
The piece I have created has many different perspectives depending on the person who observes it carefully. I feel that some may feel a sense of anger or solemnness. Some may view it as confusing to piece the broken puzzle pieces together to reveal a hidden message "
The Message of Peace has only just begun
Luton Youth Voice
ARtful Voices entries from across Luton
Tiana and Antonia - Year 8
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