Guns to Gardens Art exhibition forged from dismantled guns

John Butler, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read
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Dec. 3—Guns to Gardens Art Exhibition Opening is an event being put on by the Church of the Epiphany to showcase the artwork and gardening tools made from the metal of guns they've taken off the street.

Locally, the event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., on Dec. 4, in the church's parking lot , 21000 Lakeshore Blvd. in Euclid.

Individuals within Guns to Gardens seek to end gun violence, promote safe gun storage and maintain safe neighborhoods with their gun buyback events. At these events they anonymously purchase firearms for the purposes of healing the community and removing them from the streets. These weapons are then turned the into garden tools, art, jewelry and other items.

Hughes said many of the items at the exhibition will be available for purchase any proceeds from the art exhibition will go toward the church's next buyback event in June so that they can continue the cycle of protection.

"In June, we took in about 40 guns. In the meantime, the forge has traveled to summer camps, educational programs," the Rev. Rosalind C Hughes said. "The guns are then dismantled and transformed into garden tools and into art pieces reflecting on the process of turning toward peace."

Hughes said that this December is the 10th anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook and in that decade gun-related injuries have become the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. surpassing deaths from motor vehicles.

"It is more vital than ever to turn the tide on gun violence," Hughes said. "In many churches, the first two Sundays in Advent mean reading from the prophet Isaiah first, the oracle about beating swords into plowshares, and second, the vision of peace in which the wolf shall lay down with the lamb, into which a little child shall lead us."

The exhibition will feature the artwork from by blacksmith Tim Cunningham, the proprietor of The Urban Forge in Arizona. Using his forge, Cunningham has provided on-site dismantling and forging at other gun buyback where he melted down the firearm and create the garden tools on site.

Hughes said that the art and other items made from the gun parts they received in June help to manifest their prayers for peace.

The exhibition will remain open alongside church hours and will run through Dec. 21.