resin, shell casing, spray paint, hinged wooden box with glass, LED light.
This provocative mixed-media piece, titled “Gun Barrel,” transforms ammunition into an arresting visual and symbolic experience. Hundreds of spent brass shell casings are meticulously arranged into the shape of a barrel (term for an open wave), all housed within a wooden shadowbox. Each casing bears the marks of its use—fired, hollow, and gleaming—inviting viewers to reflect on themes of violence, consequence, and power of guns, and waves.
The bold simplicity of the framing contrasts with the chaotic gravity of the contents, making the word “GUN” and “BARREL,” spelled out in Scrabble-style wood tiles, all the more impactful. The transparent glass and resin becomes a mirror, subtly implicating the viewer in the dialogue. Are we looking into the barrel or out of it?
From a distance, the shape is elegant, almost sculptural. But up close, the intricacy reveals a ‘loaded’ narrative: lives changed, shots fired, decisions made. The art becomes both a shrine and a question mark. Resin reflects light wonderfully. This includes a rechargeable light mounted underneath the top of the lid. Can be hung on the wall or set on a table or shelf.
