LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Alkeshia Boone sadly knows the pain of losing someone she loves. Her nephew, Aaron Christopher Williams, was shot and killed in 2016. Williams was 26, and his family says the case has gone cold. 

Boone is one of the artists featured in an exhibit at the Speed Art Museum called The Promise. The exhibit features work from people who’ve been impacted by gun violence in some way.

For her work, Boone interviewed her family about their loss and is now sharing their story with the world. The video featuring those interviews plays on a loop at the exhibit. 

Alkeshia Boone is one of the featured artists, her nephew was shot and killed in 2016. (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

“I just wanted my family’s voice to be heard and their voice is through their child that they lost,” Boone said. “My nephew, he was special, he was special to us, he continues to be special to us and, you know, we want his name to live on and we are still asking for justice for my nephew Aaron Williams.”

On Sunday, the museum hosted a community day with a resource fair featuring educational and health opportunities, yoga and counselors. The day ended with a panel discussion featuring some of the artists, including Roberto Visani, who is based in New York. 

“I think it really benefits the public, in terms of their appreciation of art and understanding that it’s not just something that hangs on the wall that’s made by a genius or some master artist, but it’s something that’s made by regular people,” Visani said. 

Visani has three sculptors on display that depict guns and their connection to violence in Black communities.  

Names of people killed in Louisville who's cases have not been solved. (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

Mahogany Mayfield, community outreach coordinator for Speed  Art Museum, says she hopes this exhibit gives families a chance to speak their truth about those they’ve lost and gives perspective to people who are in attendance. 

“When we hear about and experience in our community, I want folks to be intentional as the process these narratives to be courageous enough to challenge those narratives, to show compassion,” Mayfield said. 

If you are interested in attending the exhibit, you still have plenty of time to do so. The Promise will be on display until Oct. 23.