To combat gun violence, this artist turns ammunition Into art
In Ash’s studio, spent ammunition mixes with caution tape, broken glass and paint to transform the litter of violence into art
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In Ash’s studio, spent ammunition mixes with caution tape, broken glass and paint to transform the litter of violence into art
Gun violence has been a persistent problem in East St. Louis, which had one of the highest murder rates of any U.S. city before the pandemic.
Mykael Ash uses bullet shells he finds on the ground as elements in his artwork to tell stories about racial violence, resistance, and history.
As a child, Mykael Ash enjoyed picking up seashells near the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His grandfather lives there, so trips to the beach were a regular part of life.
Each year since he was 17, Mykael Ash has lost at least one friend or relative to gun violence. "My art saved my life," he says.