The photos of this installation combines two bodies of related work: 

​

Memorial to Gun Violence: An AR-15 was Destroyed to Make this For You (2024)​

Fourteen cotton duck fabric panels dyed in iron and pigment made from a dissolved AR-15 made by A Rural Pen (Thomas Little)

 

This monumental fabric installation is made from iron and pigment made from a dissolved AR-15. I was drawn to use iron not only for its historical significance as one of the earliest pigments and paints but also to evoke its presence in both weapons and blood. Artist Thomas Little dissolved an AR-15 into red iron oxide pigment, which I then mixed with water to submerge large panels of cotton duck fabric. It created irregularly dyed dark red panels, reminiscent of blood splatters and dried blood. Remarkably, the destruction of the AR-15 yielded approximately two ounces of pigment, sufficient to dye these expansive panels. This serves as a poignant metaphor for the impact of gun violence, wherein something seemingly insignificant possesses immense potency, capable of inflicting significant harm.

​

​In this installation, the public is invited to engage by sharing their reflections, experiences, and opinions on gun violence. Using inks made from dissolved firearms by A Rural Pen, participants can express their thoughts on paper.

​

​

I Often Think About How I'll Stop Bullets from Entering Your Body (2023-ongoing)​

Oil and charcoal on paper

 

These body prints are created in collaboration with my child, utilizing oil and charcoal to press our bodies onto paper. We flatten and fold our bodies to simulate disappearing in the face of an active shooter – a scenario my child has been subjected to through school shooter drills. My partner and I attempt to cover our child’s body with our own. The title reflects the constant fear and vigilance we feel in public spaces amidst ongoing gun violence and the lack of substantial reform.