FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4, 2018

Media Contact: Kate Appel, Chair Faith, Justice & the Arts 317.507.7128, [email protected]

Stories of Gun Violence Across America: PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT ittakesus-indy.org

EXHIBIT LOCATIONS: Phoenix Theatre, 705 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis 46204 (Sept. 21 - Nov. 13) St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 6050 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis 46208 (Sept. 23 - Oct. 7) Noblesville City Hall, 16 South 10th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060 (Sept. 23 - Nov. 13) Circle City Industrial Complex, Schwitzer Gallery, 1125 Brookside Ave, Indianapolis 46204 (Oct. 5 - 26) Martin Luther King Center, 40 West 40th Street, Indianapolis 46208 (Oct. 6 - 20) Central Library, 40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis 46204 (Oct. 10 - Nov. 13) St. Paul's On The Way, 803 Broad Ripple Avenue, Indianapolis 46220 (Oct. 12 - Nov. 13)

PRESENTED BY: Faith, Justice and the Arts (Indianapolis) Joe Quint, Photographer (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America ()

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: For the past four years, documentary photographer Joe Quint has worked to tell the stories of gun violence survivors, including the family members of victims and those who've witnessed horrific acts of violence.

The work isn’t about politics or policy, or 2nd Amendment rights vs. . “It's about honest storytelling,” said Quint, “and bringing stories of trauma, grief and strength to life – without agenda. The goal is to tell a diverse story, both in terms of demographics and type of incident, and show how none of us are ever more than one or two degrees of separation away from this epidemic.”

In partnership with Faith, Justice and the Arts (fjaindy.org), an initiative of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis (stpaulsindy.org), Quint has produced a series of comprehensive multimedia exhibits about the impact that Indianapolis gun violence has on survivors, as well as those often overlooked in the gun violence story… people such as first responders, clergy and others who experience their own vicarious trauma. The first exhibit location for “Stories of Gun Violence Across America: Indianapolis” opens Sept. 21.

“The epidemic of gun violence, in the words of the Book of Common Prayer, ‘corrupts and destroys the creatures of God,’ ” said the Rev. John Denson, Rector of St. Paul’s and board member of Faith, Justice and the Arts. “We are called by God to respond to this destruction through acts of love, compassion and healing.”

One way to respond to this call, says Denson, is to create an opportunity for people to encounter the suffering that results from gun violence. “It is the hope of Faith, Justice and the Arts that, faced with the stories told through Joe Quint’s photography, our community will more readily bind together for the purpose of wholeness, peace and the prevention of further violence.”

The diverse participants in this project are from Central Indiana and they reflect those across the country who bravely share their stories of trauma, grief and strength. Quint looks for exhibit visitors to relate, connect and “maybe even see their own family’s story in the stories of others,” ultimately resulting in dialogue that leads to meaningful change.

The public is welcome to view exhibits any time during the locations’ open hours.

OPENING RECEPTIONS: A select number of opening receptions with photographer Joe Quint are planned:

 Friday, September 21, 5 - 8 p.m. at the Phoenix Theatre  Monday, September 24, 2 - 4:30 p.m. at Noblesville City Hall  Friday, October 5, 6 - 9 p.m. at the Circle City Industrial Complex  Saturday, October 6, 6 - 8 p.m. at the MLK Center

All receptions are free and open to the public.

From Oct. 10 - Nov. 13, “Stories of Gun Violence Across America: Indianapolis” will encompass both downtown’s Central Library lobby (indypl.org) and the Phoenix Theatre lobby (phoenixtheatre.org). Travel distance between the Central Library and Phoenix Theatre is 0.2 miles, or less than a 5-minute walk.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS & RELATED EVENTS: A number of related events will also be offered, including:

 “Meet the Artist: A Discussion with Photographer Joe Quint,” September 23, 10:15 - 11 a.m., St. Paul’s Episcopal Church  “Panel Discussion: The Untold Stories of Gun Violence,” September 23, 3 - 4:30 p.m., Phoenix Theatre  “How the Arts Scene is Responding to Gun Violence,” October 2, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Phoenix Theatre  “Panel Discussion: The Impact of Noblesville,” October 7, 3 - 4:30 p.m. at the Phoenix Theatre  Broad Ripple Art Walk, October 12, 5 - 9 p.m., St. Paul’s On The Way  “Panel Discussion: Suicide & Access to Guns,” October 14, 3 - 4:30 p.m., Central Library

A Poetry Reading and a Documentary Screening about gun violence are also planned; dates and times TBD. See details on all related events as they become available at ittakesus-indy.org.

All events are free and open to the public.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Faith, Justice and the Arts and Joe Quint Photography express deep gratitude for the organizations lending their support to facilitate the breadth and reach of “Stories of Gun Violence Across America: Indianapolis.”  Phoenix Theatre  Noblesville City Hall  Indianapolis Metropolitan Public Library  Circle City Industrial Complex  Martin Luther King Community Center (MLK Center)  Arts Council of Indianapolis  Indy Fringe  John Boner Neighborhood Centers  Julian Center  St. Luke’s United Methodist Church ABOUT FAITH, JUSTICE AND THE ARTS: Faith, Justice and the Arts uses diverse artistic collaborations to awaken inspire and empower communities to strive for justice and peace among all peoples.  FAITH: Building trust to dismantle the systems that divides us.  JUSTICE: Cultivating reconciliation that forms healed communities.  ARTS: Creating experiences that transform each of us.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church created Faith, Justice and the Arts to fulfill the promise of the Episcopal Church’s Baptismal Covenant, namely to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Info at stpaulsindy.org/fja or 317.253.1277.

ABOUT MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA: Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and, along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the Everytown Survivor Network, it is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 5 million supporters and more than 350,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit momsdemandaction.org. Follow Moms Demand Action on at facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand.

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