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Enough Arms? Primal Playmates, Guns R US(A), And Crown Thy Good

Gretchen Deems's avatar Gretchen Deems Two-Dimensional

The iconic Statue of Liberty is the dominant image in this triptych "Enough Arms?" which attempts to grapple with the complex and controversial gun issue in America. “The Boy: Primal Playmates”, includes images of plastic soldiers, and uses hands to replicate guns. The child-like drawings were created by my own son at age 8 including warriors complete with their weapon of choice and a number of kills to their name. The story continues with “The Man: Guns R US(A)”, which is saturated with the color of blood and is imbued with an attitude of defiance and power. This is a no compromise tale of "in your face”, and includes images relating to money/ founding fathers, death, and destruction. The final piece, “The Prayer: And Crown Thy Good” was inspired by “America the Beautiful”. Background images include amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties, etc. This piece is a hopeful prayer for greater understanding and a commitment to working together on this divisive issue.

Entry Details
  • Art form: 2-D
  • Depth: 3 inches
  • Medium: Mixed
  • Width: 29 inches
  • Year created: 2015
  • Height: 42 inches