Hands up, Don't Shoot!

     This was my contemporary art piece assignment, which I etched on an ampersand scratch board. I began by digitally sketching the pose and concept I wanted, once I was satisfied I re-sketched his silhouette lightly onto the board. I then continued etching in all the details. I chose to etch the last words of the many men who were murdered, and added the red ink for impact. There are a total of 6 bullet marks around the scene.

    This is an asymmetrical piece that uses positive and negative spaces to make the figure pop. 

     I chose to do my contemporary piece on a different kind of terrorism—such as the kind that’s currently going on in Ferguson, Missouri. Recently several cases have arisen showing the injustice of police officers shooting or murdering unarmed black men and even children, including Trayvon Martin (not by a police officer, but by neighborhood watch), Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, John Crawford, Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, Kendrec McDade, Amadou Diallo, Kamani Gray, Jonathan Ferrel. One of the youngest victims, a 7 year old girl Aiyana Jones, was sleeping when an officer shot and killed her. Many of these cases have arisen recently with the media of Michael Browns case. In fact, this specific case has caused marches all over the world calling justice for Michael Brown.  

     Darren Wilson, the man who murdered Michael Brown, dehumanized him by calling him an “it” and a demon. It’s not uncommon for the media to demonize African Americans, testing their body for drugs when its irrelevant to the case, finding the worst possible photo they could find. Meanwhile, James Eagan Holmes, was glorified in a certain manner. He was regarded as intelligent and having a PH.D in neuroscience at the University of Colorado Anzhutz Medical Campus in Aurora. This case was more seen as:”Why would such a bright kid do this?”

      Whoever's side you pick on these cases, I hope we can at least agree the use of lethal force wasn’t necessary. What happened to pepper spray, tasers and stun guns? Cops in Ferguson sure remembered how to use them on innocent protesters as seen here, here and here. These cops were able to casually pepper spray children and peaceful protesters. But you know Eric Garner was murdered via choke-hold, in a place where choke-holds were illegal and his murderer wasn’t indicted, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. If a cop can kill a man on video, in an illegal choke hold and not become indicted, will body cams really do any good? 
     The bottom line is these victims won’t get to have their right to a fair trial, as their voices were silenced when they were murdered in cold blood. They will never get to tell their side of the story.Why is it a white man can walk into a movie theater, kills twelve people,and be apprehended alive? He was even able to plead insanity, even though he had booby trapped his apartment, full well knowing police would come looking for him? Why is it places like Youtube, Tumblr and Twitter will remove video and photo evidence showing cop brutality to help protect these cops identity, but not care about revealing the injustice and lives they are harming through this brutality? Black lives matter, and we need to stop the thoughtless murder and STOP police brutality. Michael Browns body was left uncovered in the sun for over 4 hours after he was shot, a spectacle for all the neighborhood to see—doesn't this seem comparable to a public lynching? “Look at what we did to this boy, you or your children could be next”.

    

Detail Shots: