In 1999 I made these banners in response to the massacre that occurred at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Diane (my soul sister) had two kids in that high school who fortunately made it out safely. I went to her oldest daughters graduation that year. Being there, with her family, in that community, going to a pep rally, seeing the media circus, seeing the way the mall was covered with posters from all over the country - hand made giant cards wishing the kids well - transforming the generic mall from a space of slick commercial flash to a sea of human touch/love on paper; seeing the devastating pain and confusion ; seeing the courage and wisdom the students involved in that horrible day were able to articulate ... It all made a most profound and indescribable impression.

The first banner: "We Are All Columbine" is taken from the pep rally and sports event cheer that went in an aggressive staccato: "We Are Columbine!". In the aftermath of the shootings many bumperstickers and posters had taken the school cheer and added the word "all"... The interconnection of us all. Yes.

The companion banner: "Violence is Stupid" stems from my own personal philosophy that expressing ones self or resolving issues of any kind with the use of violence is the most base form of communication. That we as evolved humans should consider it so base that we find it embarrassing. To one day be able to look at it as some stupid thing humans used to do. An embarrassing historical behavior. So much so that even the entertainment industry couldn't sell it any more. These banners are my attempt (a tiny driblet) towards that evolution.

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