Angel Cloud An Artists Action

Like many people we are outraged by the war in the Ukraine. As a response we set up a cloud of Angels in a window in Dumfries High Street,

hosted by the Mid Steeple Quarter Project.

Our social media was flooded with messages and stories from makers in the Ukraine. Friends of friends, colleagues in the re-enactment community.

How could we respond?

with practical help of course.

But as Artists we create.

The Angels are placed here to recognise all the souls caught up in the chaos of war, and as a prayer for peace.

It is a symbol to do something with the frustration we feel.

We post photos on social media so that those directly involved can hopefully see, and know that there are people in Dumfries who are thinking about them.

In the space of three days we went from initial idea to installation. We used the things we had to hand, especially angels from the Christmas canopy.

We used the net to represent a vortex of chaos cause by conflict.

We chose yellow and blue Angels to raise awareness for Ukrainians, but in the description made it clear that we recognised all the souls caught up in the chaos of war.

After the initial response we upgraded the temporary words with more information.

The shopfront display is complimented by a webpage with further information. There is a QR code to scan.

This gives people links to practical ways to help linking in to the growing network of aid.

Scan the code or click here

We were invited to participate in a prayer for peace ceremony at Allanton Peace Sanctuary

As part of our contribution, Simon told the story of the "Cloud of Angels" Installation whilst folding an Angel.

He talked about the way in which we have an instinct to "Get Stuck In" when we see someone in trouble, and also the conflict we feel when this is complicated by working out how to respond at the scale of international politics.

As part of this he told how Corrie ten Boom describes the struggle and also finding the ability to forgive her former prison guard, (as well as mentioning how her father prayed for the soldiers loading people into trucks to take them to the camps).

read about it here

Describing how folding angels as an act of prayer helped him move beyond this "Brain freeze" he invited those gathered to join in the action. After taking one step, then more can follow.

We hope that this display is temporary, and we pray and practically help those caught up in war until these things pass away.

Created By

Simon Lidwell

Appreciate

Credits:

Created with an image by Maksym Dragunov - "Ukrainian flag"