Maranon, Abril, artist2022-05-102022-05-102022https://hdl.handle.net/10217/234978Colorado State University Art and Art History Department capstone project.Capstone contains the artist's statement, a list of works, and images of works.The artist's statement: Contaminated is a video installation that explores the issue of gun violence and access to guns, how gun culture has impacted today's incidents of gun violence on civilians. Informed by the Columbine massacre, this work focuses more specifically on the effect the resulting legislation surrounding the culture has had on children as the continued target of shootings. There seems to be a disconnect at the legislative level between what politicians are saying and what is happening outside the white house. This inaction appears to be spreading to the civilian level as school shootings and shootings in public spaces have become commonplace. Contaminated is a multichannel video installation in which video is projected onto a screen made of thin fabric and a columbine flower that sits on the ground. The video starts with an undisturbed flower projected on a screen and on the ground. Stock footage of idealized school environments fade into the flower imagery while the second amendment and politicians begin to appear on the screen hanging from the ceiling. This installation looks at the legislative side of this issue, with video of the second amendment being the topmost video followed by three screens of politicians giving their speeches on the matter of guns. A recording of web searches surrounding the amendment begins to invade the first screen and slowly leaks into the other screens until it finally manages to invade the shape of the flower below. The screen recording of google searches starts with research on the second amendment and its implications but soon turns into a search about buying guns and reveals where one might find them. Once the screen recording has contaminated all the screens, the search moves to Walmart, showing that one has access to guns even here. As the other four screens begin to fade under the screen recording, the stock footage in the flower shifts into and begins to play footage from a documentary discussing the Columbine massacre. The juxtaposition of past and present upon one symbol is meant to highlight what we stand to lose through continued inaction both at the government level and the individual level. How have we come to accept the killing of children as something that happens in a school? How have we allowed continued access to guns? Moreover, how could we do nothing about it when the same thing continues to happen? This installation focuses on the political aspects of this issue as video of Cruz, Pence, and Randpaul begin to glitch. Parts of their dialogue can be heard in direct contrast to the reality of easy access to guns being demonstrated in their backgrounds. These politicians are shown defending a culture that holds on tightly to the second amendment despite its impact on the safety of civilians and children across the nation. This project tries to hit refresh on the issue and wake the viewer up to the gravity of the situation.born digitalStudent worksengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.electronic artText