Gerard Basil Stipling | SHOOT DON'T SHOOT

3 feet tall by 2 feet wide by 12” deep| Bronze

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ABOUT THE WORK

"Shoot, Don't Shoot" captures the tension between observation and action, offering a striking commentary on the power of perception. The centerpiece of the sculpture is a detailed bronze camera, sitting on a small, minimalist shelf. Its lens is pointed outward, as if ready to capture a moment, evoking the role of the observer in both documenting and influencing events. The cold, metallic surface of the bronze contrasts with the warmth of the idea—capturing life’s fleeting moments—suggesting the neutrality of the camera itself, which is neither inherently good nor bad but serves as a tool for both art and surveillance.

In the title "Shoot, Don't Shoot,” there is an intentional play on words, juxtaposing the idea of taking a photograph with the more ominous notion of using force. This contrast highlights the duality of modern technology, where a device like a camera can be a passive recorder of reality or a tool for manipulation and control. The viewer is invited to contemplate whether the act of observation leads to intervention, or whether remaining a passive observer has its own moral implications.

ABOUT GERARD BASIL STRIPLING

Gerard Basil Stripling is a sculptor and fabricator that specializes in making dreams come into reality with a focus on contrasting textures and high-flying ideas. Starting his creative life as a costume designer for the music industry, Basil traveled the world, collecting experiences that would eventually seep into the dreamscapes he would begin creating in bronze, stone, and wood. He has become a master at casting and carving in a continued effort to master the images in the head.

A resident of Laguna Beach, Basil splits his time between the studio and supporting a number of community projects. He has received several awards for his work and has been commissioned for a number of public works in the Southern California area as well as private projects. American Style Magazine listed Basil as one of the artists to watch in 2008. They were not wrong.

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