Cara, 2011 by Shelley Calton

Few things get Americans riled up like talking about gun ownership and rights. Contender Shelley Calton calls attention to female gun ownership in her series Licensed to Carry: Ladies of Caliber. Set against her subjects' everyday scenarios, the guns are prominently featured, a contrast to their otherwise concealed nature. Calton has documented what she calls the "female experience" in previous projects, addressing feminine aggression and empowerment via the Roller Derby, for instance. In Licensed to Carry, the artist again challenges traditional notions of femininity. In the portraits, the metallic object of brute, destructive force is a constant; as much a part of these women's daily lives as playing an instrument, or getting ready to leave the house, or sitting at a dinner table.

Alana, 2011 by Shelley Calton

Calton delves deeper into the series and explains:

Texas and guns go hand-in-hand. As a young girl, I was taught about guns and learned to shoot. My father kept a pistol in his nightstand and rifles for hunting. Until recently I have maintained an apprehensive distance from guns, except for through the lens of my camera... In Licensed to Carry, I decided to explore the private lives of women who arm themselves. Women who carry guns are unassuming; it may be the mother in the line next to you at the grocery checkout counter, the grandmother that is out walking her dog or the woman parking next to you at the shopping mall. This is not an exclusive club and is open to anyone, except a convicted felon. While owning and/or carrying a gun is not always kept a secret, it is seldom boasted or talked about. I have discovered most of the women that I have photographed through word of mouth and they have all agreed to reveal themselves and their guns. In order to be licensed to carry, my subjects have been tested, fingerprinted and schooled to use a firearm effectively. To better understand this process, I have also become a member of the growing trend of women gun owners. These women are licensed concealed handgun carriers and are empowered with a peace of mind that, if needed, they can protect themselves.

Alana II, by Shelley Calton

Houston-based Shelley Calton's latest body of work Licensed to Carry: Ladies of Caliber is an addition to her recognized projects that focus on the female experience. Her first book, Hard Knocks: Rolling with the Derby Girls, was released by Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg, in 2009. Her work is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, as well as many private collectors. Featured articles and interviews have been written in Texas Monthly, the Houston Chronicle, Silvershotz magazine and Black and White International. Represented by DeSantos Gallery in Houston, she also serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Houston Center for Photography.