Peace Doves – Durham Cathedral – 26 July – 4 September 2024
15,000 individual dove sculptures with hand written messages of Peace and love are suspended creating a poignant collective mass participation installation inside Durham Cathedral.
From 26th July to 4th September 2024 viewers witness the installation by Peter Walker Sculptor, lit and set to music by Composer David Harper.
Thousands of Individuals, community groups and school children from the region all participated in creating a paper dove, folding, drawing and writing personal messages related to Peace, expressing what this means to them and the relevance of Peace in our time today. The overall impact of this artwork is highly emotional, with a beautiful poignant and ethereal quality.
Press:
BBC: ‘Visitors flock to cathedrals peace doves artwork’ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn09p4982rlo
Sunderland Echo : https://www.sunderlandecho.com/whats-on/serene-peace-doves-installation-takes-flight-at-durham-cathedral-4717589
Yahoo News : Peace Doves Durham
Chronicle: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/reviews/went-see-new-peace-doves-29617024
Northern Echo: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24478682.visitors-durham-cathedral-flutter-new-art-work
Visitors participating comments:
John Gilbert, the Chaplain on duty was one of the first to give Prayers on the Hour with the installation hanging above the Crossing, when asked his views on the artwork, he said,
“I think its just magnificent. Its truly amazing what can be achieved with something so simple as paper and messages of hope. The artist imagined this artwork and the communities of Durham Cathedral made it possible.”
Friends Julie Carr from Stokesley and Sue Currie from Alnwick were among the first visitors to see the artwork and described it as “stunning”. Julie said,
“Its such a breath-taking installation, the movement in it is lovely and so very peaceful. Peace is such an inclusive topic that people of all ages and different communities can engage with, so its wonderful to see.”
Volunteer, John Garside, who has been one of the team of volunteers that has been helping visitors make paper doves for the installation said,
“For the past few months I’ve been helping people make a peace dove and I’ve made a few myself too! As soon as I came in today and saw the white doves hanging in the Nave it made a real impact on me and was great to see what we’ve been creating for the past few months finally come to life.”
“I wrote about love and kindness because we should show this to others no matter who they are or who they choose to be.” Tara Sharma age 15 (Whitburn Academy)
“I think peace is about welcoming peopled making people feel good about themselves. Making sure people have rights in the world.” Alfie Simpson age 11 (Cleadon C of E Academy).
“Peace is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Emily and Alyssa from the USA.
A number of events held by Durham Cathedral beneath the doves have been organised too including fine dining in the Cathedral beneath the Peace Dove Sculpture.