Sean Russell (Las Vegas)
Artist Statement:
Hands and Heart are a diptych of mixed media photo collages, created during the last year and a half, which are a response to general gun violence found in America. Both artworks depict an underlayer of flower bouquet images, on which has been placed standard law enforcement or firearms training shooting targets. Each of these targets has been anthropomorphized with small additions – Hands contains two upright surrendering hands, and Heart contains the “HEART” chest label. In the case of Hands, the hands are difficult to see and fade into the background, and in the case of Heart, the label is perhaps the focal point of the artwork. As both targets are made specifically for the shooter and not the victim, the idea is that surrender is obscured while the killing shot is focused. Both pieces are then placed into a marred and damaged image of a gold frame, which represents the method viewers, or the public receive this content daily – gun violence is packaged and quite literally framed by various media sources for numerous agendas. While difficult to see in the photos, both pieces are covered by a layer of resin, to which metallic flakes has been added, which gives the works a “glittery” appearance as viewers walk by. Finally, the Hands target is aptly labeled “MADE IN USA.”

Shown here: "Hands" - Photographic Toner, Acrylic, Resin on Panel