ITHACA, NY — A score of contemporary artists take aim at the challenging and divisive issues surrounding guns in America in “UNLOADED,” an exhibit running February 3–March 6 at Ithaca College’s Handwerker Gallery of Art. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held at the gallery from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4.
“UNLOADED” examines the historical and social issues surrounding the availability, use and impact of guns in our lives from a number of perspectives, deploying art to develop critical dialogue and response. The 20 artists whose multimedia work is featured visualize the power of the gun as icon and instrument. The pieces examine and represent the role that guns play in our national mythologies, suicide rates, incidents of individual and mass murder, cases of domestic violence and the militarization of civilian life.
The exhibit is curated by Susanne Slavick. It includes works by Slavick, Lauren F. Adams, Nina Berman, Joshua Bienko, Casey Li Brander, Anthony Cervino, Mel Chin, Cathy Colman, DADPRANKS (Lauren Goshinski, Kate Hansen, Isla Hansen, Elina Malkin, Nina Sarnelle and Laura A. Warman), James Duesing, Jessica Fenlon, Vanessa German, Jinshan, Andrew Ellis Johnson, Jennifer Nagle Myers, Adrian Piper, Don Porcella, Devan Shimoyama, Renee Stout and Stephanie Syjuco.
Slavick will give a curatorial talk at the gallery on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m.
All Handwerker Gallery events are free and open to the public. Located in the Gannett Center, the gallery is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and weekends, noon to 5 p.m. The gallery is closed to the public on Tuesday, but can accommodate group or class visits by appointment.
For more information, visit www.ithaca.edu/handwerker or call the Handwerker Gallery at (607) 274-3018. To schedule a group or class visit, contact gallery director Mara Baldwin at (607) 274-3548.