Philadelphia: A City’s Inner Struggle with Gun Violence – Through the Eyes of Two Local Artists”.

As a journalist, I will rewrite the article to make it unique. Here’s my version:

Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, has always been a city on the rise. But according to one artist, guns could be its downfall. Portlock drew inspiration from Australia’s strict gun laws and the significant reduction in gun-related homicides and suicides that followed. His artwork “Time After the Hunter” portrays a city in ruins but also reborn, reflecting both the past and present versions of Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, Natalie Hijinx, a Philadelphia artist and member of Vox Populi collective, used her love for science fiction and Gene Roddenberry (“Star Trek”) as inspiration for her multimedia sculptural piece “Long Action.” Set in a future where a decentralized artificial intelligence dominates, the AI known as Essensees is devoted to saving mankind. In this future, a super fungus engineered by Essensees feeds on gunpowder, rendering firearms useless and helping to eradicate gun violence.

While Portlock’s vision is bleak, Hijinx offers hope for a brighter future. Both artists believe that stricter gun laws can help reduce gun-related deaths and create a safer society for all citizens.