Art Walk, happening now: ‘Gun Show’ at Mind Unwind in Admiral

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

With this week’s news of a city-county gun buyback, our society’s use of and relationship to firearms returned to the headlines. That makes a new art exhibit in West Seattle all the more timely, and you can see it during tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk. We visited The Admiral District’s Mind Unwind gallery/event space for a preview last Friday night, first night of “Gun Show 2013” by Vancouver, B.C., artist Brent Ray Fraser (above), who describes his images of guns and flowers as examples of yin and yang:

Gallery owner Krystal Kelley told WSB the exhibit was booked months ago, long before the Connecticut school massacre and other incidents brought “the gun debate” back to centerstage in our country. She wondered whether to cancel it – but decided that it might play into the discussion, helping people consider their own beliefs and feelings about firearms. This is part of an ongoing series of work by Fraser, about 60 in all so far, he says. He is at Mind Unwind tonight, creating art live, till 9 pm; the show continues till the end of the month, and you can also see it while visiting MU’s Treehouse Lounge loft (2206 California SW). P.S. Some of Fraser’s work in the exhibit is complimented by arrangements from Admiral’s Flower Lab.

Robert January 10, 2013 (7:29 pm)

Should have gone with you gut.

anomie25 January 10, 2013 (8:40 pm)

It’s her right to show this stuff. It’s her gallery. But I find it offensive and won’t attend.

Seaview January 10, 2013 (9:07 pm)

Offensive!! No thank you.

cjboffoli January 10, 2013 (9:24 pm)

Art should make you think and feel something. It should push you out of your comfort zone. If people are “offended” then the art is working on some level.

Seaview January 10, 2013 (9:30 pm)

You are right, Offensive is too kind. Ill stick with the No Thanks. I like flowers in the ground or in a vase on my desk.

Jerry P January 10, 2013 (9:44 pm)

Mind Unwind is a great place….our kids love the B-day parties there and Krystal is an amazing person and artist, also great with kids :) Let Art be Art

TM January 11, 2013 (12:04 am)

Any chance some of you are missing the point?

FauntleeHillsFag January 11, 2013 (1:15 am)

Lol at people finding this offensive because of the guns. I found it offensive because of how unoriginal it is.

Chris January 11, 2013 (4:49 am)

I love it ! Good luck Brent. Understood loud and clear.

norskgirl January 11, 2013 (6:13 am)

Things still feel so raw over the recent horrible gun violence. And I feel anger, offense and sadness when I look at these art images. Yes, good art evokes a reaction. I simply do not want to support and “celebrate” assult weapon images in any way right now.

Amrakx January 11, 2013 (7:53 am)

Distasteful.

Young Lino January 11, 2013 (8:19 am)

U guys are ridiculous… Offensive!? You people get in trouble or scared and the first thing u do is call a person with a gun, a cop… Get educated about firearms it is the great equalizer in a time of turmoil… Answer to 1984 is 1776… See how long before this post comes down…

AJP January 11, 2013 (9:14 am)

Um, I dislike guns as much as the next Seattle liberal hippie, but I don’t see this art installation as offensive. Maybe not my taste in art, either, but certainly not offensive.

justme January 11, 2013 (10:15 am)

What brings to mind for me is:
weapon first, grave (with flowers) next.

Of course, not all guns create violence. Just sayin’

These images provoke sadness for me.

SarahScoot January 11, 2013 (10:25 am)

Ditto FHF. Not offensive to me, but also doesn’t evoke any emotion. I just find the images bland and derivative.
But I’m no art critic.

seaview January 11, 2013 (10:38 am)

I also see sadness at these images. Not progress, it is a recycled image. I thought about this on my walk this morning…comparable to a sex scene in a movie. You can make a scene sensual without any skin. Or you can have this image in your face, like porn. Its just very graphic & this image of an assault rifle, used to kill, that has slaughtered children unsettling. If you want to be provocative, you win. I’m pro art but the timing on this is either distasteful or dead (pun intended) on.

datamuse January 11, 2013 (10:46 am)

Norskgirl, it’s interesting to me that you find these pieces celebratory. I’m not getting that impression at all.

I have my own things I’m thin skinned about but I’m not seeing the offense here.

Brandon January 11, 2013 (11:21 am)

agree with post about how art is supposed to make you feel something. I understand the tragedy and the timing is not the best but I dont find the art offensive.

Norma January 11, 2013 (11:33 am)

Timing is bad and the art doesn’t appeal to me. Keep trying, Brent.

MB January 11, 2013 (1:31 pm)

Best thing about art is that it’s not about what appeals to anyone else…

norskgirl January 11, 2013 (1:42 pm)

Datamuse: I was not clear with my comment if it suggests I find these specific pieces “celebratory”. I do not. I was referring to the celebration of art as an expressive media. In as much, the “celebration” of art through this exhibit.

shed22 January 11, 2013 (1:52 pm)

Offensive? Distasteful?

Such a shame. Many of the postings on this topic have made me dislike the attitudes and opinions of some of my fellow West Seattle neighbors. I thought I lived in a culture of like minded people. Guess I was wrong!

While I do find the images recycled and unoriginal, I hardly see a reason for such ugly and annoying reactions.

SB January 11, 2013 (3:14 pm)

I agree with shed22. A lot of these comments are a little shrill.

cookieb January 11, 2013 (3:16 pm)

So cool I want one !! Please how is this offensive some of you people are so ridiculous guns are not the problem people like you are. Hope you sell them all good luck!

MB January 11, 2013 (3:16 pm)

@shed, totally agree!

datamuse January 11, 2013 (4:21 pm)

Thanks for clarifying, Norskgirl, I see what you mean. I don’t think I agree, but point taken.

Julie A. Nivens January 11, 2013 (6:55 pm)

I wish all you artists express yourselves as you do. This is your right. I feel bad that others may be offensive. Yes, I have had a gun to my back. Yes, a gun to my head. Yes. I will eventually own one soon. Yes. Art can portray all.
Think love, peace, and joy.