Karen Earl | Don't Shoot
Materials: Copper, vitreous enamel, brass, citron for the Brooch. Watercolor (water & scratch resistant finish), wood, brass, frame and mounting hardware for the display stand.
Dimensions: Brooch: 2 1/4" x 3 3/4" with hanging bullet accessory. Display Stand: 7" x 7" x 2"D.
Artist Statement:
“Don’t Shoot†addresses the persistent presence of gun violence in contemporary American life through the intimate format of a brooch. Using graphic directness and the mobility of adornment, the work confronts a crisis that too often recedes into public routine until another act of violence demands renewed attention. Referencing the more than 35,000 people impacted by gun violence in 2025, the piece questions the adequacy of familiar expressions of condolence in the absence of sustained action.
Artist Bio:
My artistic practice reflects a lifelong engagement with material exploration, craftsmanship, and design. At an early age, my endeavors in textile arts, clay, painting, and print making later informed my career in interior architecture and design, where I refined my sensitivity to color, form, surface, in spatial experiences. In the years preceding my retirement, I began pursuing metalworking, wanting to extend my creative practice in hand building objects at a smaller scale, and to engage with
This brooch is part of the exhibition On Point: Brooches that Speak for Themselves. This exhibition centers on the brooch as a compact but potent site of expression. Each piece holds presence—visually, conceptually, or materially.
Show dates: October 1 – November 15, 2026
All the brooches are available for purchase. View the entire collection HERE. All purchased brooches will be held by the gallery until the exhibition is complete.
