Run, Hide, Fight
This exhibition continues my series exposing the hypocrisies surrounding gun policy in America. These policies ignore the obvious dangers of unregulated firepower, resulting in an epidemic of school shootings.
My goal here is for ”Run, Hide, Fight” to hold our failed gun policy up to the light with dark humor. Funny in an Orwellian, ironic way designed to engage viewers. Outrage by itself is not sustainable. Dada inspired humor allows for better consumption.
(Beatrice Wood stated that Dada art was a response to WW I, where for the first time, people were attacked from airplanes)
What’s funny?
- The title comes from an actual Winnie The Pooh book issued to grade-school students urging kids to run, hide and, if all else fails, to fight a school shooter. This completely ignores the statistics showing that almost all school shooters are on an elaborate suicide mission, firing at random with military weaponry. The book is well meaning, but sadly laughable. (a mock-up of this booklet is part of my “Required Reading” piece).
- “Back to School Special” highlights actual products being sold to schools for defending against school shooters – e.g. bullet proof clipboards. If it wasn’t so tragic, it would be hilarious.
- “Etch A Billboard” and “Bambi vs. the NRA” both use news photos of billboards that have been altered by graffiti artists who share my point of view.
My initial series on this subject – Report to Homeroom – was fueled by outrage at the NRA and the Republican Party for their irresponsible legislation that has allowed guns to be the #1 killer of kids in the USA. Shockingly they are in firm control and because of this, many, many more kids will die.
I hope to show this work in 2026. Will that change things? I don’t know - there are already so many guns that disturbed kids & adults have access to. But it’s what artists can do.
What can you do?
Check out the artists at https://www.americanrouletteart.com
Support David Riedman’s research at K-12 School Shooting Database as the current administration is actively trying to scrub research on this subject
Support Everytown and Moms Demand Action in their fight for sensible gun laws
Visit my Link Tree Page for links to articles and information on this subject
