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    • cmediacom
      • Dec 31, 2021
      • 3 min read

    American Roulette exhibit examines a difficult subject


    Artistic expressions about gun culture and violence at Core Contemporary until Jan. 8


    By Debbie Hall


    Lead photo by Aaron Cowan

    “Seven Tragic Mountains”

    Dimensions Variable

    Printed Digital Photograph


    The gun target is:

    Sean Russell “Hands”

    32.5 inches x 24.5 inches x 2 inches Photographic Toner, Acrylic, Resin on Panel


    Abstract image is:

    Bindia Hallauer “Riot”

    20 inches x 16 inches

    Acrylic on Canvas

    Directly confronting gun culture and violence, the traveling exhibition American Roulette presents its provocative artwork in Las Vegas at Core Contemporary. The American Roulette is on exhibit until Saturday, Jan. 8, with the closing reception planned later that evening.


    Whether local or national, news alerts report the dramatic rise in violent crime, especially gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, 14,516 people died from gun violence in the US from Jan. 1 to Sept. 15. That is a 9 percent increase from the same period in 2020. Mass shootings are also on the rise, 15 percent higher than in 2020.

    American Roulette began as a solo traveling exhibition of Dominic Sansone’s sculpture The Gun Show in 2015. CJ Hungerman joined the exhibition for a two-person show in January 2017, and it was renamed Bang! Gotcha Joe! after Dominic’s boyhood friend. Once Cesar Conde joined the collective, the traveling exhibition was renamed American Roulette for its presentation at The Clemente Center on the lower east side of Manhattan in 2019.

    Michelle Graves was asked to join in 2019, and Folleh Tamba was added in 2020 before the exhibition at The Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.


    Yousif Del Valle and Anthony Guntren were working on a similar idea west, and when everyone discovered their mutual goals, the group came together to create American Roulette.


    Core Contemporary curates art experiences based around challenging topics to evoke thoughtful contemplation and responses. A much-needed platform is offered for productive dialog across cultural and societal divides. The opportunity for an actual conversation about gun culture and violence is the chance for people to listen and learn from each other.


    “It has been an honor to tour my artwork with the American Roulette exhibit. All of the work on display is intense but of an important topic, and I am glad that it has continued to be seen and discussed. The concept of utilizing art as a conversation starter and platform for deeper discussions on societal and existential topics is a personal mission of mine and pairs well with what American Roulette is doing as a traveling exhibit,” says Michelle. “Also, I am proud to help provide opportunities and encourage artists to exhibit their work in a prestigious manner.”


    Local Southern Nevada artists who were accepted to the call for art for the Las Vegas exhibit includes:

    Linda Shaffer instagram.com/redpearlart

    Dan Brady instagram.com/void._.space

    Aaron Cowan instagram.com/aaaartist

    Adriane Serrano Bojorquez instagram.com/xxaryalaxx91

    Tom Umholtz instagram.com/tomumholtz

    Carla Furey instagram.com/whiteshadowart

    Michelle Costigan www.instagram.com/hikingmich

    Sean Russell www.instagram.com/chili_river

    Vezun instagram.com/vezunvezun

    Bindia Hallauer instagram.com/artbybindia

    Nancy Good instagram.com/nancygood_art

    Kelly Ludden Facebook.com/kelly.ludden

    Jen Spencer Facebook.com/kitschyjen


    This is a very personal project for Serrano Bojorquez who has experienced gun violence. As she stated in her bio on the Core Contemporary website, "I was held hostage at gunpoint in 2018, during a robbery, at one point he lifted the visor of his helmet and I saw his eyes, that image is burned into my mind. I was able to disarm him where law enforcement was able to subdue him due to my knowledge of guns."


    Artists part of the traveling American Roulette exhibit:

    Dominic Sansone sans1studios.com

    CJ Hungerman cj-hungerman.squarespace.com

    Cesar Conde cesarcondeart.com

    Michelle Graves gravesmichelle.com

    Folleh Tamba americanrouletteart.com/Folleh-Tamba

    Anthony Guntren instagram.com/anthonyguntrenart

    Yousif Del Valle yousifdelvalle.com

    Core Contemporary showcases artists who are strong in genres such as abstraction, surrealism, street, and minimalism, working in mediums as diverse as painting, collage, assemblage, photography, digital design, sculpture, and performance art.


    Fear and paranoia have become a very integral part of many lives, not only from the pandemic and its economic and societal consequences, but the significant uptick in crime, especially gun violence. Another aspect showcasing the gun culture are the devotees of the true crime genre with networks, movies, television shows, podcasts, YouTube, and Patreon channels regurgitating the most heinous crimes. American Roulette showcases very personal emotions about the fascination with crime and its consequences.


    American Roulette will be exhibited at Core Contemporary located at 900 E. Karen, Suite D222. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 8, 2022, with a closing reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8. The exhibition is accessible from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday. No appointments are necessary. For more information, visit corecontemporary.com or americanrouletteart.com.


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