AMERICAN MONUMENT

Literary Walk promenade, 
Central Park, New York City
Memorial Day, 5.30.2022

We created this memorial the weekend after the Uvalde, Texas shooting, where 19 children and 2 teachers were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School the previous week. It was Memorial Day, and we thought we’d make a memorial and share it in one of the most touristy places in Central Park. 

This was the first time we’d created something that could be seen as political and we were worried that people would argue with us. What we found were people who wanted to talk and unpack the violence in America. Many of the tourists were from other countries and all of them said they didn’t understand why Americans are so obsessed with guns. We don’t understand that either, but we do understand the data about its impact on our lives.






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Data Vandals is Jen Ray and Jason Forrest. We bring people together through exhibitions, performances, and workshops, collaborating with global brands, universities, and social groups worldwide.

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