Moms Demand Action of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties in collaboration with Flemington DIY has issued a call for student art on a difficult subject — gun violence.
The idea for the exhibition called #DontLookAway: Gun Violence in America, for participants ages 14 to 21, came from DIY volunteer and former teacher Lisa DeMuro, local group lead of Moms Demand Action Hunterdon/Somerset Counties.
“We wanted to give a voice to the first generation of students who have gone through lockdowns and school shootings. We wanted to give them a safe space,” DeMuro said, adding she has experience with students taking part in active shooter drills at school. “This is a cause near and dear to my heart.”
Flemington DIY Director Jeff Hersch said the community arts space with “a focus on ‘do-it-yourself’ ethos and values,” according to its website, said “yes” when DeMuro suggested the idea.
“It falls right in line with everything we stand for,” he said.
Hersch said there are no restrictions on what students can submit for the multimedia show, other than meeting the show guidelines. Asked whether there was any concern that some of the art might be too graphic, he said, “We’ll address it when it comes.
“We don’t really censor things,” Hersch added. “We can expect some things to be more graphic or radical than other art shows, and that’s maybe the point.
“I think the fact that participants are going to be students, that speaks volumes. They’re at the center of all these tragedies.”
Artists must register by May 25 to take part in the exhibition, which is sponsored by Moms Demand Action. The work will be on display for the entire month of June at Flemington DIY because June is Wear Orange — National Gun Violence Awareness Month. An opening event is scheduled for 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 9.
According to DIY’s website, “Students ages 14-21 are invited to submit an art piece of any size/medium (visual art, sculpture, poetry, video, etc.) based on the theme of gun violence in America. This exhibition aims to: increase awareness of the growing, unique problem of gun violence in America today and put a spotlight on the need for change and solutions; give a voice to the first generation of Americans to have had to experience lockdowns and school shootings; (and) imagine a world free from gun violence.”
Students can sell their artwork during the show, if they wish to do so, with 60% of sales going to the artist and 40% to support the nonprofit DIY.
“There is a wonderful, inclusive energy there, and they are very easy to work with and open to all kinds of new ideas,” DeMuro said of Flemington DIY, where she and her husband, Tom, both volunteer.
“I’m a former teacher. That’s kind of how I got involved in this movement,” DeMuro said of Moms Demand Action. “After Sandy Hook, I was stunned that our lawmakers didn’t do anything. I realized change was going to have to come from the grassroots up.”
According to its website, Moms Demand Action is “a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.” It was founded by Shannon Watts, a mother of five, after the Sandy Hook school shootings.
“We pass stronger gun laws and work to close the loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our families. We also work in our own communities and with business leaders to encourage a culture of responsible gun ownership. We know that gun violence is preventable, and we’re committed to doing what it takes to keep families safe,” the website states.
Moms Demand Action “will be reaching out to high schools and colleges and club leaders to give them information about this (exhibition),” De Muro said.
Information and registration info can be found at flemingtondiy.org/dontlookaway.
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