chronology of ‘I am love’ sculpture for essex
March 2019
Having long thought about how amnesty knives may be used in a positive way to engage young people with difficulties to have productive conversations, Luisa Di Marco discovered the existence of the Knife Angel. She set about initiating contact with the monument’s artist, Alfie Bradley.
NOVEMBER 2019
Conversations began between Luisa, Alfie, and British Ironworks regarding the possibility of bringing the nationally touring monument to Chelmsford.
January 8th 2020
An application to the registrar of Companies House was submitted to form Keep It 100 YouthCIC as a not for profit voluntary organisation. A key feature of the constitution was based on a youth led statue for Essex.
January 14th 2020
The registrar of Companies House in England and Wales approved the application, and Keep It 100 Youth CIC was a legally constituted organisation. Dedicated work to begin bringing the Knife Angel to Essex began, led by Luisa and Keep It 100 Youth CIC.
September 6th 2021
The Knife Angel is erected in Chelmsford’s Central Park.
September 25th 2021
A formal vigil to remember victims of knife crime and youth violence took place at the Angel, the monument was lit purple to signify remembrance, and a procession of young people, from across the county, wearing white hoodies to symbolise positive youth culture carried white feather lanterns.
The feathers were chosen by Luisa Di Marco for their significance in representing honour, unity, freedom and strength in numbers.
The event included a performance by Keep It 100’s organisations ambassador and youth mentor, Grammy nominated songwriter Joy Farrukh, whose composition ‘I am love’, embodies the ethos of Keep it 100 Youth CIC’s misson to inspire positive mindsets.
MAY 2022
Keep It 100 Youth CIC were successful in a funding application to to the National Lottery Community Fund. Chelmsford Safer Partnership and Chelmsford CVS were approached to become partners.
JUNE 1St 2022
Then Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford, Cllr Rose Moore, confirmed that a site matching the requirements proposed to Chelmsford City Council by Keep It 100 Youth CIC had been identified, subject to consultation. The location offered was Frank Whitmore Green.
July 18th 2022
The name of the permanent sculpture was proposed by Luisa as ‘I am Love.’ Joy Farrukh was approached and confirmed approval. Based on this, Alfie Bradley was invited to provide an artist’s impression of a statue to be based on a the song, and on a heart, which represents love and life itself.
august 2022
Essex Police agreed in principle to a donation of amnesty knives for the statue, which was arranged by key partners at Safer Chelmsford.
September 6th 2022
To mark the one year anniversary of Knife Angel arrival in Chelmsford, an event to mark the announcement of “I am love” sculpture project was held, it included the unveiling of Alfie Bradley’s artistic impression.
March 2023
Keep It 100 Youth CIC and key partners Chelmsford CVS jointly received a High Sheriff Award at Essex Community Foundation’s annual event at Hylands House. This grant was in part to help fund youth design workshops for the sculpture, and consultations aimed at under 25’s.
April 2023
A sculpture consultation with Young Essex Assembly was undertaken prior to planning application being submitted
April 2023
A planning application for the sculpture was made to Chelmsford City Council by Safer Chelmsford Safer Partnership
May 2023
A consultation meeting with representatives from Keep It 100 Youth CIC, Safer Chelmsford Partnership, Young Essex Assembly, and the Essex Youth Service took place to discuss the sculpture and the associated activities. A key takeaway was for the sculptures messaging to include, but not solely focus, on knife crime.
APRIL 2023 - June 2023
Consultation via workshops for Under 25’s, including those who have lost someone to knife crime. These had a specific focus on understanding how the Sculpture design might reflect this element of youth violence, without traumatising loved ones of knife attacks.
august 2023
A funding application was approved in principle, subject to planning, by our key partners, Chelmsford CVS and Chelmsford and City Council’s Community Infrastructure Fund, which is funding that developers in Chelmsford pay to provide for better communities.
SEPTEMBER 2023
A funding application by key partners Safer Chelmsford Partnership to Essex Police Fire and Crime Commission for Home Office Safer Streets funding , was approved.
OCTOBER 2023
Alfie Bradley was formerly commissioned as co- creator in collaboration with volunteer co-creator, Luisa Di Marco. The agreement was overseen by key partners and fundholders Chelmsford CVS. Alfie’s initial payment was made by Keep It 100 Youth CIC using the National Lottery Community Fund, which had been granted an extension period.
25th March 2024
Final feathers were finished by Alfie Bradley and the cutting team.
MARCH 2024
Keep It 100 Youth CIC received a High Sheriff Award at Essex Community Foundation’s annual event at Hyland’s House Chelmsford. The organisation invited some young people to collect the Award alongside our Directors. The funding which was provided by Essex Police Proceeds of Crime, was partly dedicated towards workshops with an artist for young people to participate in contributing art as part of the statue. The workshops additionally facilitated opportunities for education relating to youth violence, including weapon crime, and provided key information as to how the sculpture can be youth attractive in messaging, final design tweaks and the unveiling event.
February 2024
Alfie Bradley travelled to Essex to collect the knife deposits donation from Essex Police, with the assistance of Safer Chelmsford Partnership.
MARCH 2024 - September 2024
Multiple workshops funded by High Sheriff Award were hosted by Keep It 100 Youth CIC, working with local artist Elaine Tribley. Using the inspirational US Artist Jean Michel Basquiat, whose background of childhood trauma combined with resilience and positive creative influence, led to his successful career as an artist, in defiance of the adversity and the associated harms he could have succumbed to. The workshops were based around feathers some of which would from part of the final statue itself. Young people from across Essex were involved, and worked to have a piece of art created containing young peoples artwork and messages to be installed alongside at the statue. One workshop was hosted in Harlow collaboration with The Tommy Jones Project Founder, Melanie Hopwood, who led the Knife Angel Harlow visit. Mel lost her son Tommy in a fatal stabbing. The youngest participant in the workshops who was three years old, has already been affected by family related violence.
September 17th 2024
Keep It 100 Founder and co-creator of the sculpture, Luisa Di Marco, and key Partner Chelmsford CVS Chief Officer, Lorraine Jarvis, travelled to Shropshire to sign off the statue. As they entered the workshop, Alfie thoughtfully played Joy Farrukh’s ‘I Am Love’. It was a powerful moment, and one neither are likely to ever forget. Alfie has incorporated the design input from Luisa, and all the young people, to reflect the design elements and enhance with his unique creative flair.