Guns As Art?

The Arts & Culture Alliance is presenting art prints of rifles and guns at the Emporium Building. Guns are indeed an intractable part of our history, and can certainly be well crafted--but are they really art? I suppose it depends on the eye of the, uh, aimer. But here's a German Artillery Luger for your perusal:

Arts & Culture Alliance Presents Art Prints of Rifles

 

(04/20/2009/Knoxville) - The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition by the Rifle Print Company and coordinated by Arts & Culture Alliance member Ben Woodson.  Based in Knoxville, the Rifle Print Company photographs and prints large-scale images of rifles and other guns.  This exhibition will hold a lot of interest for veterans, historians, and collectors.  These guns are from rare collections seldom seen outside of walk-in safes.  The 36 images in this group showcase guns worth more than $500,000, with some individual rifles valued at more than $35,000.  Most of these weapons saw active duty in military conflicts going back to WWI.  There are guns carried by many U.S. veterans as well as guns captured from enemy soldiers.

 

"Rifles represent many things to many people.  For some, a rifle represents death and destruction... for others, they are symbols of power, survival, and even national pride," says Publisher Ben Woodson.  "But undoubtedly, they are an integral part of our history.  It is very impractical to show the actual guns as a collection in a gallery.  Quite frankly, many collectors will not allow them to be on exhibit and, in many instances, it is illegal for the gun to be unaccompanied by someone licensed to handle the weapon.  I set out to offer an exhibition of highly detailed images to give veterans, historians and others an opportunity to see images of these guns in a gallery setting."

 

Woodson works with photographer Jim Wells to photograph these rifles.  These images are about 85 percent of the actual size of the guns they represent.  They are photographed in a dramatic yet simple style, floating the image of the gun on a stark black background.  Giclee reproductions of all prints (framed and unframed) will be for sale at the exhibition.

 

The exhibition of 36 prints of guns and rifles and will be on display in the Balcony at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville from May 1-29, 2009.  An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on May 1 from 5:00-9:00 PM.  The Emporium Center is located at 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902.  Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with additional hours on Saturday, May 2, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM).  Please note that the Emporium will be closed on Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day.  For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit the Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.