Janeil
Engelstad

Visualizing Violence/Peace Signs was created as an alternative media campaign about youth gun violence. The media’s coverage of this subject rarely included the voices and points of view of young people. With the help of professional artists/mentors, teenagers from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, added their voices and opinions to the dialogue surrounding gun violence.

The project began in San Francisco where photographers were paired with teenagers from the education program at the Ansel Adams Center for Photography. After a series of media literacy workshops the teams created work on the Polaroid 20 x 24 Camera at Calumet Photo. The work was published in Sphere magazine and exhibited at various locations throughout the country. The participants also presented their work to the California State Legislature as a part of a youth forum on gun violence. 

Modified versions of the project were produced in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. In each city six young artists were paired with professional artists to design billboards and transit shelter posters that were posted in Los Angeles, Washington DC and Chicago. The Chicago project included an outdoor arts and peace festival that culminated in a parade and rally co-produced by Lillstreet Learning Center and Street-Level Youth Media.