A global nonprofit is turning the idea of “living life in peace” into action with a youth-focused art workshop that invites students to reimagine an iconic symbol of nonviolence.
The Non-Violence Project North America Foundation is hosting a free art workshop on April 25, inviting middle and high school students aged 12 and older to reimagine the Knotted Gun sculpture, a globally recognized symbol of peace made to honor the life of John Lennon.
Hosts of the event will use art to inspire youth engagement by allowing students to design their own interpretations of the Knotted Gun — a sculpture depicting a revolver with its barrel tied in a knot.
“The Non-Violence Project has spent more than thirty years demonstrating that creative expression can shape how young people see themselves, their communities, and their ability to make change,” Carey D’Avino, founding director and CEO of NVPNA, said in a statement. “This workshop extends that work into a public, collaborative setting, inviting students to engage directly with a global symbol and contribute their own perspective.”
Participants will work with a shared visual template to produce their own interpretations of the art installment. One design will be selected to become a permanent sculpture at National Sawdust, giving a young artist the opportunity to leave a lasting mark in Brooklyn.
Jenna Morello, local artist and muralist and ambassador for NVPNA, will unveil her own interpretation of the sculpture and guide students through their creative process. Attendees can also anticipate live performances from Alanna Rose, Brooklyn singer-songwriter, and Matt Whyte, host of the Webby Award-winning “Sing for Science” podcast.
The original sculpture was created in 1980 by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd in memory of his friend, Lennon, who was tragically murdered in 1980 outside his New York City apartment. Reuterswärd’s artwork was initially placed in Strawberry Fields in Central Park and later at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.
Over the past three decades, the Knotted Gun has been adopted worldwide by the Non-Violence Project Foundation, a Swiss-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing violence through education. The organization has installed more than 30 sculptures in major cities around the globe, including at the United Nations, and has reached over 10 million young people through programs focused on conflict resolution, anti-bullying, mental health, and leadership.
The workshop will take place at National Sawdust, located at 80 N. 6th St. in Williamsburg. Doors will open at 10 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:30 a.m.. The event is free and open to middle and high school students ages 12 and up.
Event space is limited so RSVPs are required. Interested families and students can register on the venue website.
