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Trigger

This is a body of work that will be described in the paragraphs below is in major progress. These photos were from a class called Topics in Sculpture: aka 781. I am currently working on a few project proposals to try and get into circulation again. Below are a series of paintings and the proposal that goes with them.

















Trigger

Trigger  is an exhibition that requires the viewer to look at the immense issue of gun control. Often the issue of gun control is broken down to legalities and paper work. Recently to call for mental health screenings and limits dominate the conversation. Trigger examines a feminist perspective of the issue.
Created in easily understood graphics and with non-mature materials the paintings focus on masculinity versus femininity and the role that gender conditioning has in the use of guns and weapons as a whole. The juxtaposition of the graphic, even comic, style of the images of the guns is complicated with the flowery details of the quilted fabric printed with flowers. The use of decoupage, puffy paint, and bright color is a metaphor in material to reference the craft projects of childhood. Using classic piping techniques for cake decorating the artist has piped acrylic paint on top of the quilting fabrics to further the contrast of the typically masculine and typically feminine. 

In the past thirty years in the United States there has been 62 mass shootings 61 of them have been committed by men. This conversation is not being held to point the finger at masculinity, but at the social constructs that design our young men as to have them reach for weapons. This is not to say violence is only committed by men, but that much of violence has become a gendered issue and that it is an epidemic of violence. The creation of toy guns, video game culture, and less strict guidelines on violence in movies not only supports but demonstrates violence for the youth of America to consume and absorb. This culture of violence deserves and demands attention. This is a moment for the United States to reflect both personally and nationally and create conversation.


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