Bullets to Books III
Artwork photo courtesy of the artist
by Stephanie Mercedes
Melted bullets, 12 in. x 9 in. x 4 in. 2020.
GLB-2020-3
Acquired into the GLB Art Collection July 2020.
Book and pencil cast out of melted bullets.
This image is of "Bullets to Books (II)" which is installed at the Anacostia BusBoys and Poets and the Charnice Milton Community Bookstore. This artwork honors the life of Charnice Milton, a DC journalist who was killed by gun violence and loved books. (To learn more about her please visit here).
This artwork, and the acquired artwork for the GLB collection "Bullets to Books (III)" are part of a series of books cast out of bullets. Bullets to Books (III) is currently under commission.
Stephanie Mercedes, who prefers to go by Mercedes, is a DC-based Argentinian/American artist. Mercedes melts down weapons confiscated by the DC police and turns them into musical instruments, installations and public works of art. She also excavates the archives of missing invisible histories.
She has been funded by George Soro's Open Society Foundation and Light Works. She has exhibited, performed and lectured at the Bronx Museum, Kennedy Center, Queens Museum and the Smithsonian. Mercedes regularly hosts public gun destruction and melting ceremonies throughout her city and is in the process of turning 'Bullets to Bells' into a DC violence de-escalation program. Mercedes has been a artist in residence at: VisArts, Halcyon Art Labs, the Bronx Museum, Montgomery College and Christopher Newport University. Mercedes is currently very grateful to be a Lisa Neher Memorial Studio Fellow at Halcyon Art Labs.
Mercedes is available for commissions, public gun destruction ceremonies and workshops upon request.
Photo courtesy of the artist