Eilene Carver
The Target series address the personal and public impact of gun violence that has become an undesirable societal constant for our nation. The Stockton school shooting in 1989 haunted me for decades. Sandy Hook compelled me to symbolically depict the intimate personal loss of these ‘small targets’. Google research displays shooting incidents as drop pins scattered across the United States map. The numerous overlapping pins block prior events, creating a parallel to our overloaded consciousness.
Our collective conscience is numbed to the impact of each personal loss as this epidemic of gun violence spreads. These random acts aimed at our schools, theaters, nightclubs, concerts, churches and countless individuals wear on our corporate psyche. I aim for these images surreptitiously confront the viewer with their sober message. Layering content is as integral to my process as layering paint.
Expressing the effects of light and color on forms is a constant in my work. I purpose physically textural surfaces in this series to create a tumultuous subtext. In the school specific works somber palettes naturally emerged in the creative process, due to my emotional involvement with the subject.
I contend more stringent policies towards gun reform are necessary to reduce the incidents of gun violence in our country. This series is intended to confront individuals with the reality of personal loss and ignite empathy for the families and victims beyond the ’24-hour news cycle’.
I would like to see these paintings stir emotions, spur dialogue and provoke impactful change regarding this complicated dilemma.
I believe if this issue is ignored, we are all possible ‘Targets.’
Our collective conscience is numbed to the impact of each personal loss as this epidemic of gun violence spreads. These random acts aimed at our schools, theaters, nightclubs, concerts, churches and countless individuals wear on our corporate psyche. I aim for these images surreptitiously confront the viewer with their sober message. Layering content is as integral to my process as layering paint.
Expressing the effects of light and color on forms is a constant in my work. I purpose physically textural surfaces in this series to create a tumultuous subtext. In the school specific works somber palettes naturally emerged in the creative process, due to my emotional involvement with the subject.
I contend more stringent policies towards gun reform are necessary to reduce the incidents of gun violence in our country. This series is intended to confront individuals with the reality of personal loss and ignite empathy for the families and victims beyond the ’24-hour news cycle’.
I would like to see these paintings stir emotions, spur dialogue and provoke impactful change regarding this complicated dilemma.
I believe if this issue is ignored, we are all possible ‘Targets.’
