PREY:Protect Our Children

**Please click on image to get the full view**

10th Place Open Division 2010 Creative Beading Swarovski Competition

PREY:Protect Our Children by Melissa Player. FINALIST 2010 Creative Beading Swarovski Competition Australasia

Each year I usually try to make a piece of art jewellery that has more
personal/emotional value to it as opposed to the other pieces that I
create.
...


Throughout the year I was very disturbed by numerous recurring news
reports about the abuse of children from so called "holy" people and in
"holy" places like our churches and synagogues. This happens all over
the world and it deeply saddens me that these sad, sick perverts think
that they can do what they like to innocent children just because they
are considered "holy"!!



Now...I appreciate there are many wonerful, caring & nurturing
people that work in this discipline that empower and support millions
of people each day - but, there is also a more sinister side to be
conscious and mindful of.



So...with that said I called this piece "Prey" as opposed to "Pray"-
the components and design have lots of symbolism from purity, to
tangled webs of deceit, to the cover ups that churches do and the
private payouts they make to keep things out of the media, to the ideal
that these sick people feel that they have "safety in the numbers" of
the people that follow & support them etc, etc. The necklace is
essentially in two main pieces - the beaded collar with small and large
safety pins, crosses, chain and beads and also the rosary with the
black wire wrapped Swarovski cross.



This scary info came out of a Sydney newspaper recently
"The latest data,compiled by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and
Research, showed 1600 people were charged with committing a range of 27
offences in the state's "places of worship"in 2008." That' just
the ones that were officially charged!!. It then went on to say that in
places of worship (including churches,
synagogues,monasteries,mosques,convents,cathedrals and chapels) that
you stood a higher chance of being sexually abused, stolen
from,harrassed, threatened etc than if you were in an adult
entertainment joint ie strip club, brothel, sex shop, massage parlour
etc.

Pretty sad isn't it.....



So please...look after your children, make sure you always know where they are and never,never become complacent.