‘I am love’ sculpture unveiled at Frank Whitmore Green

‘I am love’, a public art sculpture dedicated to empowerment against all forms of youth violence, was recently unveiled at Frank Whitmore Green in Chelmsford city centre.

The 15-foot sculpture, which weighs 1.25 tonnes, is made from 900 metres of stainless steel and incorporates blunted knives collected from amnesty bins across Essex, donated to the project by Essex Police. The sculpture was conceptualised by Keep It 100’s founder, Luisa Di Marco, and created in collaboration with Knife Angel artist, Alfie Bradley.

The project has been informed by extensive youth consultation by Keep It 100, including responses to the Knife Angel’s visit to Chelmsford in September 2021. The installation’s aim is to provide a site for sustained education and reflection around the issue of youth violence, highlighting the prevalence of knife crime without provoking fear.

Di Marco hopes I Am Love will inspire young people to make positive choices:

“I am Love is a message of empowerment. We want to inspire young people [to begin] necessary conversations connected to violence within their community, whether its perpetration or prevention of themselves, or those they care about, succumbing to acts of violence.”

Luisa Di Marco, founder of Keep It 100 Youth CIC

The project is supported by Chelmsford City Council, the Safer Chelmsford Partnership, Chelmsford CVS and Young Essex Assembly. Amnesty knives were donated by Essex Police.

“Keep It 100 is a fantastic organisation and Chelmsford City Council is proud to support their latest project, ‘I Am Love.’

“By displaying the sculpture in Frank Whitmore Green, surrounded by public space and recreation provision, we hope that young people in Chelmsford will feel inspired to talk to their friends, support agencies, and the council to let us know how youth violence impacts them and how we can support them moving forward.

“I’m confident that ‘I Am Love’ will create a legacy of youth empowerment and education in Chelmsford, encouraging young people not just to join the conversation around youth violence, but to lead it.”

Councillor Donna Eley. Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford

‘I am love’ is a permanent public art installation at Frank Whitmore Green.

For more information on the project and Keep It 100, visit https://www.keepit100essex.com/i-am-love-sculpture