A gallery show at Duke University's John Hope Franklin Center, "Protesting Cartography" features 21 multimedia drawings of sites the United States has bombed. Part of Slavick's larger body of work on the subject, the drawings are based on surveillance work, aerial photos, military records and maps.
"They're first and foremost protest drawings because I'm against every single bombing," Slavick said. "But to do every single (drawing) together gives a historical overview of places the United States has bombed."
Slavick described the process of her creating these works as both artistically different and historically educational.
"(These drawings are) really beautiful," she said. "With my previous work ... people were critical of my work as being propagandistic. In a way, these drawings are a progression in my own artwork."
Of the drawings showcased at Duke, one depicting the fire-bombing of Tokyo in March of 1945 exemplifies the combination of beauty and horror for which Slavick aims. Tones evocative of a primal and raging forest fire nearly obscure the shapes of the city.
As with many of the other works in this group, the Tokyo piece is so abstract that it makes its caption harsh and unexpected.
"The fire-bombing of Tokyo, I just think is a beautiful drawing even though it's a horrible thing that happened," Slavick said.
Among the artist's other favorites are drawings of travesties in Korea and Haiti, both of which mix a strong sense of cartography with pervasive beauty. Using such contrasting concepts and feelings in her work, Slavick hopes to educate and provoke her audience to action.
"We're not the only (country) who bombs," she said. "But as an American, I think it's important to look at our own history."
