Can Art Stop a Bullet?
This intensely personal documentary sees social-conscience artist William Kelly explore whether art can break through rage to create calm in times of crisis. Kelly is a longtime peace activist who marches, protests and contributes to social transformation through the art he creates. His 42-foot-long, 5-foot-wide print banner titled "Peace and War/The Big Picture" is the focus and framework for this documentary. Filmed on five continents, with contributions from over 20 artists, thinkers, and activists, including Martin Sheen, A.C. Grayling, and Rama Mani, the viewer is transported to the concentration camps of the Third Reich, the bombing of Hiroshima, the troubles in Ireland, race riots in the USA, and Pol Pot’s Year Zero. Kelly asks, “Does art have the power to help us build a better, more peaceful future?”