Gun Show: Rethinking Weapons in the Name of Art

After assembling mock assault rifles out of everyday found objects, sculptor David Hess decides to turn them into an experimental public art installation to explore America's obsession with guns. The fruits of that mission comprise the story of Gun Show, a fascinating and deeply moving documentary that steers clear of advocating a position and instead invites meaningful dialogue about the cultural power of guns. Beginning in Hess's sculpture studio, and culminating on the mall of the nation's capital, filmmaker Richard Chisolm's three-year documentary "road movie" represents a continual quest for meaning: an invitation to freshly engage the very loaded topic of guns in America. Gun Show is a powerful educational resource for inspiring critical thinking and discussion on a range of topics, including cultural mythology and symbolism, civic discourse, public art, public policy, gun rights, gun safety, and violence in America.