Fragments Reimagined | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Fragments Reimagined

Sat, May 30, 2026, 10:00 a.m.—Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
MCAD Main Gallery
Gallery Exhibition
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Opening Reception: Saturday, May 30, 3:00–6:00 p.m.

Fragments Reimagined serves as a call to end gun violence in our communities, harnessing the transformative power of art to provoke dialogue, foster healing, and advocate for change. Embracing the model of the "Guns in the Hands of Artists" initiative originated in New Orleans in the mid 1990’s, Art Is My Weapon provides a platform for artists to utilize their talents as a means of social commentary and activism. Centered on the belief that transforming weapons into works of art, artists can confront the harsh realities of gun violence while inspiring hope for a safer, more peaceful future.

Featuring over 35 artists, this exhibition serves as a platform for creativity and a call to action. Through their work and advocacy, artists are empowered to ignite change and build a community committed to ending the devastation of gun violence, making our communities safer for generations to come.

Art is My Weapon MN is a 501 C3 that aims to use art and creativity to spark social change.

Fragments: the broken pieces, the incomplete, the things left behind. In the aftermath of gun violence, there are countless fragments that leave an indelible mark. It’s in the loss of a loved one, the loss of innocence, the loss of a feeling of safety. What if these fragments could also be used to prompt change?

More than 200 people experience gun violence every day, with an average of 59% of American adults or someone they care about experiencing gun violence in their lifetime.* Beyond these staggering numbers are the countless people who will be forever changed by these moments. For decades, families, friends, advocates, community activists, and lawmakers have been calling for reform, but this uniquely American problem remains.

Featuring over 35 artists, Fragments Reimagined serves as a call to end gun violence in our communities, harnessing the transformative power of art to provoke dialogue, foster healing, and advocate for change. Embracing the model of the "Guns in the Hands of Artists" initiative originated in New Orleans in the mid-1990s, Art Is My Weapon provides a platform for artists to utilize their talents as a means of social commentary and activism. By transforming weapons into works of art, artists confront the harsh realities of gun violence and inspire hope for a safer, more peaceful future.

This exhibition is curated by Keisha Williams and Nikki McComb.
*statistics courtesy of Everytown everystat.org and the Centers for Disease Control


Participating Artists

Katayoun Amjadi
David Aschenbrener
Pedram Baldari
Queen Serena Black
Juels Bowman
Courtney Bradshaw
Barbara Bridges
Tina Burnside
Christopheraaron Deanes
Diana Eicher
Kyle Fokken
Kelly Frankenberg
seangarrison
Ruthann Godollei
Jayden Goldsboro
Teneka Graves
Guillermo Guardia
Christopher E. Harrison
Heaven Hayden
Karl Herber
David Kamm
Mike Klein
Michele A. Lackey
Laura Marie
Flahn Manly
Nikki McComb
Noval Noir
Rheasa Otto
Maria Quinn
Jennifer Schultz
Brit Sigh
Miko Simmons
Crystal Sokuu
Jennifer Higgs Stewart
Michelle Thayer
Lux Thunberg
University of St. Thomas Justice and Peace Studies students
Amy Wilderson

Content Awareness

This exhibition deals with depictions of guns, gun violence, and decommissioned gun parts. All gun parts are non-functional. Please view this exhibition with awareness. If you or someone you care about has been impacted by gun violence or are in need of emotional first-aid, the lifelines below are here to support you:

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988Lifeline.org
Dial: 988
If you’re in crisis, call, text, or chat with a 988 Lifeline counselor for help during difficult moments anytime, day or night.

VictimConnect Resource Center
victimconnect.org
1-855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846)

Available weekdays from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET, the VictimConnect Resource Center (VCRC) is a phone, chat, and text-based referral helpline operated by the National Center for Victims of Crime. Services are available for all victims of crime in the United States and its territories. Visitors to the hotline receive strength-based and trauma-informed services and referrals in over 200 languages.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
thehotline.org
1-800-799-7233

Every contact to The Hotline is unique. Some callers identify as survivors of domestic abuse, some as abusive partners and some as concerned family members and friends seeking help for someone else. The Hotline and website offer support, information and referral.

Gallery Visitor Policy

The MCAD Gallery is open to the public the following hours:
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m–7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

All visitors must buzz in and enter through the north (main) entrance, sign in at the welcome desk in the main lobby, and stay in designated gallery areas.

Accessibility Information

The gallery has limited padded and non-padded seating. Some artworks contain light, projections, sound, screens, and scent.

The Main Gallery is on the first floor of the building, at the main entrance off Stevens Avenue and 25th Street. The Concourse Gallery is on the second floor and can be accessed via elevator or stairs. The building is equipped with wheelchair-accessible and gender-neutral bathrooms and accessible entrances from the main and parking lot entrances.

MCAD is committed to providing students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities equitable access to MCAD-sponsored programs and events. For more information or any disability accommodations, please contact MCAD Gallery staff at 612.874.3667 or gallery@mcad.edu.

Transportation and Parking

There is disability-accessible parking at two locations: the main entrance off Stevens Avenue and 25th Street and the MCAD parking lot off 26th Street and Second Avenue South. General event parking can be found in the MCAD parking lot off 26th Street and Second Avenue South, street parking along Stevens Avenue, or the Mia parking ramp.

For more information on how to find us and where to park.