“Gun Violence Leads to Lonely Playgrounds”

When I was given my bag of gun parts the only thing I knew I wanted to do was to make a fabric using a method called eco and rust printing.  The method is a way to create fabric  with imprints of bullet shells, nails, and Bitternut Hickory.  I used silk fabric which adds a rich and luxurious feel.  I liked the contradiction of the imagery of the bullets and nails being reflected on a soft, touchable and beautified surface.

When I unrolled the fabric I fell in love.   It was a work of art, just as fabric.   I thought about what to do with the fabric, for a couple of days.  I could simply make a pillow and it would beautiful.  I made lots of sketches and kept in mind the loss of innocent victims of gun violence.  Of course the loss of all people due to gun violence is a tragedy, but my heart cries when the universe loses a child due to gun violence.  The universe will never know what we will miss due to the loss.  Gun rights is a political topic and the solution maybe complex and requires a balance that is hard to find.

But,  what holds true is, problems are never truly resolved by guns.  Once the bullet lands the problem, whatever it is, still lives. Whether a person is choosing a gun as a way of revenge, I for a eye, ridding the world of their focus of hate, getting your values heard, expressing feelings of disenfranchisement, hurt over bullying, or because a little voice is talking to you, I can tell you with certainty that no matter how many bullets land, the problem or issue will still remain.   I hope with this art and this show I can bring awareness that guns are never a tool to solve problems or have your voice heard.