Rugs Against Gun Violence
Continuing the remembrance of gun violence victims
in our community.
Rugs Against Gun Violence recycles shirts from the Memorial to the Lost project into braided rugs.
The Memorial to the Lost uses t-shirts to display the names, ages, and dates of death of victims of gun violence in Philadelphia each year. The shirts used for these rugs were handwritten by volunteers from Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA. Their memorial is erected annually on MLK Day at the corner of Lancaster Ave. and City Ave., where it stays for a month before moving to other nearby locations.
Rugs Against Gun Violence represents the web of inter-connectivity of all in our community, especially those affected by gun violence.
Each rug measures 4 feet across, weighs 8 lbs, uses approximately 25 shirts, and takes around 25 hours of cutting and braiding to complete.
These rugs will be on display in the Philadelphia area and sold to raise money for local anti-gun violence organization CeaseFirePA. The first display can be seen starting July 30, 2026 on Haverford Avenue in downtown Narberth, PA. The rugs are available for sale here.
Special acknowledgement to Emily Stewart and Narberth Public ART in the facilitation of this project. Thank you to artist Hanna Vogel for creating the steel armatures supporting the displayed rugs.
