Tempest In A Teapot

On July 21st, 2005, I wrote an article titled, T’anks to Mr. Bush, about a controversial exhibit at California’s Department of Justice in Sacramento. My article focused on artist Stephen Pearcy, lambasting him for his deficient artistic skills and his even greater paucity when it comes to making political statements. I stand behind my critique that great technical proficiency and political sophistication is required of an artist who endeavors to create works of social criticism - and these days many who profess to be artists possess neither. That being said, I realize there are other valid opinions on the matter. Fellow painter, Art Hazelwood, who also happens to be in the Sacramento group show, sent me an opinion piece he wrote concerning the hullabaloo. I very much respect the abilities and vision of Hazelwood, and so I publish his remarks here.

"This show has caused a tempest in a teapot. The press articles seem to focus on the idea that the lawyer who painted the image of the lower 48 states draped in a flag and sinking in a toilet, has no right to call himself an artist, has no right to criticize the US, and the only reason he is doing it is because he wants fame. It all is a bit much. The right wing responses which you can find by doing google searches for ‘Attorney General Lockyer Censorship’ paint all artists in the show as depraved but no one seems to bother to analyze the art in question. Many have said it is not art or not good art but that is beside the point. Lots of bad art gets reviewed and discussed every day. The point is that the meaning of the piece is not what the right construes. Clearly the lawyer/artist is saying not that the US belongs in the toilet but that it is going to the toilet (e.g. it's going to the dogs, or it's going down the drain) because of the policies of George Bush. This is like the statement "man, things are going to hell." being interpreted as the speaker wants all things to be in hell.

Further the portrayal of the US in the toilet naturally, for those who read the news, suggests the defamation of the Koran by guards at US military detention centers. The artist/lawyer is saying, look this makes you angry too, maybe it isn't the proper way to handle the Koran. The show is not government funded, so you can put away your ‘Don't spend my taxes for your Art’ signs... I'll put away my ‘Don't spend my taxes for your War’ sign. The whole show actually started as a quaint little idea of getting lawyers and artists to show together. A few pieces are political but most are not. One of the artists in the show, who will remain anonymous, was actually responsible for bringing in most of the real political art. He wanted to bring to light some legal issues and how they are viewed by different people. These were mostly shunted away to backrooms in the two venues that the show has been in. The show continues till the end of September."