Art is My Weapon

Art is My Weapon is an organization that provides a platform for artists to use their art for social commentary and activism, primarily centered around the issue of gun violence. This initiative was initially inspired to honor the memory of Kristopher K. Miller, who was a victim of gun violence. The organization uses art to provoke dialog, foster healing, and advocate for material change in the fight to end gun violence, which claims the lives of over 45,000 people annually in the US. Started by Chanda Smith Baker in 2016 in Minneapolis, the mission of Art is My Weapon is to turn pain into purpose.

Art is My Weapon holds many art exhibitions, workshops, and other community events to involve people affected by gun violence and to educate the public on the extreme dangers created by poor gun regulation in the US. In said workshops, art serves as a form of therapy and education. As stated on their website, these workshops “ultimately lead to greater self-awareness, public awareness, conscientious personal action, thoughtful community action, and more equitable relationships.”

Alongside their educational and evocative art exhibitions, Art is My Weapon works with the local police department to emphasize the importance of gun safety and regulation for the sake of public safety. By collaborating with the Minneapolis police force, Art is My Weapon has been able to utilize and deconstruct firearms, turning their structural components into art projects. In this sense, Art is My Weapon weapons of destruction into artifacts of peace and trauma-healing. With Art is My Weapon, survivors, activists, and allies all come together to initiate change and build a community around the plight of gun violence.