Thirty-one Americans are murdered with guns daily and 151 are treated for gun assault. Our firearm homicide rate is 20x higher than the COMBINED rates of 22 peer countries. This epidemic is at a crisis point. This exhibition is dedicated to exploring the complex issues surrounding gun violence. As metalsmiths, we harness skills to alter guns to product sculpture; the notion of turning Swords into Plowshares.
The Innovative Merger of Art & Guns to Inspire New Expressions, or IMAGINE PEACE NOW Exhibition, is a call to arms, hearts and hands. The artwork represented in this show responds to, and initiates conversations regarding gun violence so prevalent in American culture today. Ninety-fout contemporary metal artists from six countries have devoted their creativity to this topic by transforming disabled hand-guns from Pittsburgh 'Goods for Guns' buy-back program.
A panel of three prominent Jurors have joined me in selecting work for the show, for the catalog and for Awards:
Emily Zilber, Boston MFA,
Monica Moses, American Craft Magazine
Shepard Fairey, Artist
An illustrated hard-bound catalog, designed by erin McManus, is now available (click on 'SUPPORT US' above) and includes an introduction to the exhibition as well as written contributions from the jurors, established crafts curators, scholars and celebrity peace activists.
The show is traveling the U.S. -- click on 'EXHIBITION' below to see current venues.
A percentage of proceeds from catalog and artwork sales will be donated to Brady Campaign, the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and also to the Society of North American Goldsmiths.
Feel free to email us to request additional information, or to just say hello!
Boris Bally(1) The Brady Campaign averaged the most recent five years of complete data (2009-2013) from death certificates and estimates of emergency room admissions available via CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System, www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars/. Data retrieved 1.22.15.
(2) Richardson, Erin G., and David Hemenway, “Homicide, Suicide, and Unintentional Firearm Fatality: Comparing the United States With Other High-Income Countries, 2003,” Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, published online ahead of print, June 2010
(3) Isaiah 2:4, “And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.”
