Linda Shaffer (Las Vegas)
Artist Statement:
"I Have" is a work inspired by interviews of American families whose children have been victims of school violence.  The gun owners that were interviewed regarding the shootings proclaimed their rights as Americans.

"The Path” was inspired by a case of spousal abuse I witnessed while working as a trauma nurse.  A man brought in his wife whom he had severely beaten.  She had lost consciousness, her face was severely battered, and she had bleeding bondage scars on her wrists.  Once patched up, she refused to press charges and didn’t want us to call the police.  He husband had again convinced her the beatings would never happen again.  I often wondered at what point her broken spirit would end the abuse.

The"Bigger the Better" is a work which was inspired by the recent violence in Michigan.   When I saw the images of the men threatening the Governor of Michigan on the state capitol steps while holding their AK47s and smiling for the cameras, it was as if they needed the weapons to proclaim they were real men.  Only with their weapons could they feel like real men.

Shown here: "I Have" - Mixed-media