Artists and Chaotic Times

Arthur Roger, a now displaced gallery owner from New Orleans, said "The art community is looking for direction. We are not going to be defeated." I’ve always maintained that great art comes from chaotic, difficult circumstances, and I’m positive history will record this period as a turning point for American art. In the New York Times article from which I quote, Roger went on to say "The whole landscape of American art is in the process of upheaval. Between 9/11 and Katrina, I am seeing artists dealing with history. When I was at school we were concerned primarily with form… now that’s all changed." Since the very beginning of my career as an artist I’ve been an advocate for socially conscious art, and for me Roger’s insightful observation describes the shape of things to come.

While many artists are hopelessly entangled in the "art for art’s sake" posture, countless others are discovering the transformative social dimensions of art. It’s difficult to say anything positive can come from the human misery and destruction left in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Nevertheless, I have a feeling artists are going to break out of their self-imposed isolation to reestablish community based arts imbued with a sense of social purpose - and that can only be a good thing. In rising to the occasion, artists will reinvent an art movement that has humanistic principles at its core. Accomplishing such a task necessitates our being alert and responsive to world events - and no where is truth exposed in a more glaring manner than in America’s shattered gulf states. It may be that Katrina has provided us with a catalyst that will change the course of art in America.

Mike Brown, the Bush appointee heading the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), quit on September 12th after being battered with unrelenting criticism for his inept handling of the hurricane Katrina crisis. Just a week before, George W. Bush publicly praised Brown at a press conference, saying "Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job." The Bush administration claims it did not seek Brown’s resignation - but forced or otherwise the departure reveals a White House reeling backwards from intense condemnation over its handling of Katrina. Let’s forget for a moment how unqualified Brown was to direct FEMA and instead focus on the man who appointed him. While it’s good news Brown has resigned - I’m waiting for George W. Bush to follow suit. If we lived in a just world Mr. Bush would no longer be making decisions for the American people. Instead, he is appointing David Paulison as acting director of FEMA.

Speaking on behalf of Homeland Security on February 11th, 2003, then U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison, described a list of items every American should have to help survive a nuclear, biological or chemical weapons attack. Paulison stated people could use duct tape and plastic sheeting to protect their homes by sealing off windows, vents, and doors. Immediately after Paulison issued his notice, hardware stores all across America instantly sold out of duct tape and rolls of plastic as terrified citizens went into a frenzy of panic buying. I remember seeing televised news reports of people wrapping their homes in duct tape and plastic, as if they would actually be made safe by doing so. Naturally, duct tape and sheets of plastic are useless when it comes to protecting against radioactivity, but that didn’t stop Paulison from issuing his harebrained statement. Now that he’s running the entire FEMA operation, I guess it’s time to start stalking up on more duct tape and rolls of plastic.