The Third Floor Gallery featured junior Samantha Feldman’s artwork as a part of their Artists Against Gun Violence series from Mar. 22 to Apr. 9.
Photography teacher Patrick McDonough approached Feldman about creating a piece for anti-gun violence exhibit.
“I immediately had an idea,” Feldman said. “Gun control is an issue I’m super passionate about because of everything that’s been going on recently.”
Feldman is ardent supporter of the anti-gun violence movement, participating in the March for Our Lives before gaining the opportunity to make a statement through her art arouse.
“I’m a strong advocate for gun control,” Feldman said. “I think that making art is a bold statement in the right direction. Art can influence people, and it has a profound impact on people who look at and observe and create and appreciate art.”
Feldman’s piece is comprised of nine portrait photographs of students and faculty. The photographs are placed over the transcriptions of Feldman’s interviews about how gun violence makes each person feel with her subjects.
“Some of the subjects were my friends, but some of them were just people I just came up to in the hall,” Feldman said. “It’s awkward but it really helps you get a clear picture of what the voice of Marshall is saying. I ended up interviewing Officer Allen, [principal] Litz, [and] teachers. And it helped me a lot in kind of understanding the bigger picture, not just who I know.”
Although nine subjects are featured in the piece, Feldman photographed and interviewed 36 people in total.
“I only ended up using 9 [portraits], but I used all the interviews,” Feldman said. “I want everyone’s voice to be heard, and that kind of represents everyone speaking their mind and being able to have a say in what happens.”
On top of the photographs Feldman painted “use your voice” in a variety of colors.
“[I wanted to represent that] the kids in schools are the people who are the founders of this movement, and so their voices should be front and center of what happens,” Feldman said.
Feldman’s piece is on sale for 200 dollars. The money from the sale will go the March for Our Lives movement.
“I didn’t create the art for me,” Feldman said. “I created the art for the cause, so I feel like it wouldn’t be fair to have the money go to me.”
Being a part of the Artist’s Against Gun Violence Exhibit is the first time Feldman’s work has been featured in a gallery.
“My art [was] in the very entrance and [when I saw it] I almost cried,” Feldman said. “I was so excited for people to look at it, and after I entered the gallery [I saw that] there were actual humans looking at what I made and I was like oh my gosh.”
Feldman said that while her dream is to pursue theater in college, this opportunity has inspired her to keep finding ways to exhibit her visual art.
“It was really cool to introduce myself as one of the artists,” Feldman said. “It’s great to have your voice be heard and I’m glad other people’s voice can be heard through my artwork.”
2018-05-16