Gun ownership in the US - or anywhere else for that matter. The right to defend oneself, one’s family, one’s homestead, one’s constitutional rights and one’s civil liberties. Defence. If only that was the only issue involved - then this set of works would not have taken so long to complete. Over 6 years passed from thoughts to framing - because there never seemed to be the ‘right’ time to produce them (ABC News reports that there have been 31 school shootings in the US since Columbine in 1999 when 13 people were killed. In the last 30 years since 1982 American has mourned at least 61 mass murders).

The topics and issues dealt with and reflected in my work are all ongoing and all topical, which is why with rare exceptions, I chose to show them within an historical context - to reinforce the idea that if things are not constantly brought to people’s attention, to make them contemplate, think and hopefully reflect, act and change - then we are left with a failed, stagnant and festering status quo.

Sub note: It is possible that this work will be judged as insensitive, opportunistic or sensationalist. In my belief - in art, as in other forms of expression - the opportunist is greedy and weak. The sensationalist is lazy, ill informed and headline seeking.

Artist's note:
Researching the subject of gun ownership in the USA I was shocked by the number of ‘Old West’ style decoration in the homes of their owners, this, perhaps unconscious, desire to portray oneself as a lawmaker from the 1800s, to invoke the spirit of self-deputised righteousness’.

The frames are in the style of the 1800s ‘Cowboy décor’ to be found in a saloon – colours echoing the bullet casing and gun metal of their revolvers.

The ‘twee’ wall paper patterns again echo of times past – but also found in a great many of the homes of the gun owners photos I researched. Seemingly at great odds to a genteel fashion to the weapons that surround their faithful owners. The plastic sticking labels with embossed writing are there simply as a piece of 1970s whimsy in a time of daily violence and uncertainty.