Add your message of peace

In September, Lincoln Cathedral will host an installation by artist Peter Walker. Caroline Bingham visited recently to add her own ‘Peace Dove’ to the thousands that people across the country have been invited to create.

Known as ‘Peace Doves’, the installation is a mass participation artwork by artist Peter Walker – the artist behind Luxmuralis – and is made up of thousands of individual paper doves which will be suspended in the nave of the Cathedral. The artwork is also set to music by composer David Harper.

The doves are available to make in the Cathedral and visitors, schools and local community groups are invited to add messages of peace, hope and love to the paper birds. Over the spring and summer it is hoped that more than 10,000 doves will be created which will then be turned into a stunning artwork that will hang from the ceiling of the nave and be available to view from the beginning of September.

Samantha Mellows, director of Visitor Experience and Enterprise said: “Every day we witness conflict in the world, both on a global scale and in our own lives. But we also see acts of kindness, friendship across barriers and people pursuing peace in small but important ways. Doves have long been recognised as a symbol of peace, and for Christians they are seen as a symbol of God’s presence on earth and as a promise of hope.

“This is a great opportunity for diverse communities, individuals and groups to come together and create something completely unique, which will then be on display in the Cathedral. We hope that the finished piece will inspire a sense of peace, unity and hope in all those who see it and that visitors to the Cathedral enjoy the beauty of the huge flock of doves soaring above the nave.”

As well as contributing to the installation in the Cathedral, special digital packs are available to schools, community groups and other organisations that would like to create peace dove displays in their own spaces. Anyone wishing to obtain a pack for their group should contact Samantha Mellows on: events@lincolncathedral.com

You can find more information about the Peace Doves installation, and how to join in and share your message of peace at: www.lincolncathedral.com/peace-doves

Peter Walker has already staged unique installations using paper doves in several places of worship in the UK including Liverpool Cathedral and St Albans Cathedral. The sculptural piece of work will require up to 10 miles of ribbon onto which the doves will be attached. Lincoln Cathedral’s installation will be created by Peter’s team in early September and opens to the public on 5th September.

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