Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Forged from destroyed firearms parts, Ryan Freeney's "Peace Dove" sculpture will serve as a memorial for Marion County homicide victims.
Freeney, an Indianapolis firefighter and founder of Indy Art Forge, was supplied the gun parts for his piece by the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
When it's complete, the metal "Peace Dove" will stand nearly 9 feet tall and boast an impressive wingspan.
But for the next three weeks, Indianapolis residents will have the chance to get an up-close look at a small-scale model of the memorial by visiting their local library.
Monday afternoon, officials from the Sheriff's Office and the Indianapolis Public Library kicked off the Peace Dove tour. A model of Freeney's Peace Dove will spend a week on display at one of the library branches.
Through Friday, the model Peace Dove will be at Brightwood Library, 2430 N. Sherman Drive.
From Sept. 22 to Sept. 26, it will be at Southport Library, 2630 E. Stop 11 Road.
The final week of the tour will see the piece on display at Pike Library, 6525 Zionsville Road, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.
Indianapolis resident Fredrick Nance just happened to be at Brightwood Library Monday afternoon for the unveiling of the model Peace Dove and was stopped in his tracks at the sight of the piece.
On the night of Feb. 20, his son, 16-year-old Quinton Nance, was fatally shot while walking on East 23rd Street.
Fredrick Nance said the tragic incident happened as Quinton's younger sister celebrated her birthday.
"When they're late coming home, it's a different feeling than it was before," Fredrick Nance told The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1uDgluc ) of his children. "Our family lost its innocence."
The Peace Dove collaboration is a continuation of a partnership between the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Indianapolis Public Library formed last April to distribute free gun locks to the community.
"Like police stations and fire stations, public libraries are located throughout Marion County. They ensure access to education and culture to local residents, which is why the library was such an incredible partner for the gun lock giveaway program, and now the Peace Dove Project," Sheriff John Layton said in a statement. "We are thrilled that people from all sides of town will be able to visit their local library to see this powerful work of art and hope that it stirs excitement for the reveal of the full-size Peace Dove at the Central Library."
The finished Peace Dove will be unveiled at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., on Oct. 7 at 10 a.m.
In addition to the Peace Dove, Freeney created the Fallen Deputy Memorial that stands in front of the Marion County Jail, as well as the bronze eagle at the Indianapolis 9/11 Memorial near North West and West Ohio streets Downtown.
"This project, which is part of the library's communitywide Stand4Peace initiative, is an opportunity for the library to be everyone's place to come together to learn and discuss important issues and commonly shared challenges," Jackie Nytes, Indianapolis Library CEO, said in a statement. "We encourage all citizens to view the Peace Dove and join with others in our community to advance the theme of peace and understanding.
___
Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com
This is an AP Member Exchange shared by The Indianapolis Star.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
