Oct 7, 2015

Another update on the Guns In The Hands of Artists project...

Guns In The Hands of Artists opened at The Des Lee Gallery at Washington University in St. Louis on September 16th and runs through November 21st. The exhibition is being presented by the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, The Institute of Public Health and the Brown School of Social in conjunction with the university's year-long initiative Gun Violence: A Public Health Crisis.

The opening reception on September 16th drew over 500 visitors to the university's downtown gallery. A live-streamed panel discussion with artists and university experts took place on September 17th at Steinberg Hall where the St. Louis Story Stitchers performed and on September 18th, the gallery hosted the launch party for a city wide gun buyback initiative in conjunction with President of Aldermen Louis Reed's office and the GunxGun organization. The exhibition drew big crowds and was well received by the St. Louis community as well as the local media. 

You can watch the video from the entire panel discussion here featuring artists Brian Borrello, Margaret Evangeline, Ron Bechet and me as well as activist and Washington University professor Bob Hansman that was moderated by Terrell Carter, a former St. Louis police officer, activist and author.

http://jonathanferraragallery.blogspot.com/2015/10/panel-discussion-guns-in-hands-of.html

In addition, Seema Iyer of MSNBC flew down with a crew to film a feature interview on the project that will be aired in mid October. Through this exhibition, the Sam Fox School hopes to engage partners and collaborators in taking a hard look at the serious, tragic public health consequences of gun violence in America. Through programs such as this panel discussion, individuals and communities will have unique opportunities to engage in the conversation about guns in our society, using art as the catalyst for dialogue.

On the book...we are still getting more contributors to add to the esteemed list of thought leaders writing essays for the book.  We have also added a few poets to the mix and a famous rapper as well.

Stay tuned for more and I appreciate your patience...it will be worth the wait!

Creatively and Gratefully 

Jonathan