Gun Totem

I’ve heard of turning swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, but how about guns into art?
Let me explain…
Ever see a TV news story about an amnesty program where folks can turn in their unwanted hand guns? Well Providence has taken that concept and turned it into art!
This 2001 monument is 12 feet tall and shaped like an obelisk. It’s made out of concrete, steel, and 1,000 surrendered hand guns. You can see it in the park in front of the Federal Courthouse in Providence.
It was commissioned by the Providence Parks Department. The guns were disabled and imbedded in the concrete before they were cast into the mold. Some of the exterior concrete had to be chipped away after it dried so viewers could see what was inside the pillar.
It certainly is one of the more unusual monuments I have ever seen.