COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus artist Stephen Canneto has a long history of working on issues of violence against and by children. 

Recently he was presented with an opportunity to transform donated guns by Columbus residents into multiple sculptures, as part of the Guns to Gardens movement, which raises awareness for gun legislation. 

“And I began to think about, ok let's make people comfortable in a certain, real way. And give them an opportunity to have access to gun prevention, gun violence prevention information, gun safety information,” said Canneto. 

It was Tim Vansant, Minister of Community Justice at First Community Church in Columbus, who first pitched the idea to Canneto. 

Two of Canneto's completed works, a pray for peace prayer stand and peace to pieces sculpture are both on display at the First Community Church. 

Vansant said he hopes to draw the community's attention to sensible gun legislation. 

“There's a passage in the bible, in Isiah, about turning swords into plowshares, and we want to look at peaceable and equitable ways to lower the chance of gun violence in this country,” said Vansant. 

For Canneto, he will continue to drill, solder, and work to fit the pieces together to create impact art. 

The artist who recently installed the Spirit of Caring sculpture, honoring those killed at the Parkland High School Shooting says he hopes the Guns to Gardens initiative is just the first of an annual event. 

“I'm open-ended about what we create. There are people who want to get guns out of their lives and we can repurpose them. We can take these out of the hands of people who don't want them, away from children who could become the children of them,” Canneto said. 

Vansant said he hopes to have another Guns to Gardens Campaign gun donation event this fall. 

Canneto hopes to complete a bookcase and bench to put on display at the church soon. 

For more information click here.