"This Is Not Normal" (2018) is a graphic I created in the wake of the Parkland shooting to raise awareness about gun ownership in America. Using AR-15's to write the text, the name of the piece, my goal was to create a sense of unease. From far away, the text reads normally. Up close, it's violent, it's aggressive. My point was that mass shootings, and gun violence in general, are part of our daily lives, which is extremely unnerving. Without talking about it we allow it to be normal. This piece has the intent of provoking conversation and action. Below is the caption I posted with the image on Facebook, calling for greater action and engagement from all of us. Please consider donating to Everytown.org.
"owning an ar-15 is not normal. shooting children, teens, adults, living human beings is not normal. we allow it to be when we don't speak up about the issue of gun violence and refom.
there are more families impacted by gun violence in america than there are laws protecting them. after newtown most everyone thought that would be the point where lawmakers on both sides would say enough is enough; it's time for change. it wasn't. year after year another mass shooting is added to what feels like an endless list. every day another family is making plans to burry a loved one. every day a community is left rheeling from the impact of an incident that's all too familiar, all too normal.
i have never been impacted directly by gun violence. i hope i will never. i'm sure those who have been impacted by it felt the same way at one point of another. in honor of those lost, those who survived, and those praying this will never happen to them, let's make a stand and say enough is enough. it's time for change.
this cannot be our normal."