This question comes from Me and the Light, an unreleased short film and education initiative featuring critically acclaimed movement artist Lil Buck with original music by Memphis artists Valerie June, Drumma Boy, Paul Taylor and Kevo Muney. The film by Alan Spearman, Mark Adams and the Grounded Team reveals how art can help transform ourselves and our communities struggling with violence.
Grounded launched a pilot initiative of the Me and the Light education curriculum in January 2020 in partnership with East High School in Memphis, TN. When COVID-19 pandemic forced the school to close indefinitely in March, Grounded quickly adapted the curriculum to a virtual model and continued to support students at East High for the remainder of the Spring and Summer.
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The image was created by Abel Billings, a 17-year-old student at East High School, as a response to one of the Me and the Light curriculum’s creative challenges. The question posed to students was, “What does ‘Be What a Bullet Can’t Be’ mean to you?” The phrase “Be What a Bullet Can’t Be” comes from a line in Me and the Light which encourages viewers to use their creativity to reduce violence in their community. Abel shares some detail about how he created this image saying,
“The bullet hitting the silhouette before breaking into the ribbons is to show the bullet becoming something it can’t, that being an explosion of love... The black and white (and red) color scheme is to show the opposites of life and death. Finally, the division between black and white is in the shape of a heartbeat to continue the theme of life and death.“ Abel has continued his artwork working as a Grounded Student Ambassador saying, “I want to try and create something with an actual purpose or meaning that can possibly help someone.”
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Me and the Light was filmed in 2016 when Memphis experienced its highest number of homicides in its recorded history. The film was created in part as a response to how art can be used to create pathways away from violence and help heal our community.

➢ Read more about the East High pilot program at
https://dailymemphian.com/section/metro/article/14880/when-schools-closed -mrs-rileys-class-found-new
➢ Learn more about Grounded at www.WeAreGrounded.org

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