Bio:
Artist Statement:
What is different today from the 1960’s?
My painting “Cultural Rebellion” was inspired from a drawing I drew in 1968. In the 60’s our country was erupting with young people demonstrating and dying while protesting against, racism, the Vietnam War, and women’s rights. I participated in the marches against these unjust behaviors that existed within our social and political norms in the 60’s. Here we are again in 2020 still fighting the same causes. Not very much has changed except the Vietnam War is not an issue but we still have soldiers fighting and dying in places we should not be fighting. In the last 50 plus years our cultural indifferences toward equal rights has made little progress.
Maybe today’s peaceful protests against inequality and injustice by the murder of George Floyd will unite us to change; look within ourselves to recognize our own biases. Equality must transpire now for all people; no matter what color the skin, religion, sexual orientation, and political affiliation. Our police systems and government leaders must be held accountable for the unjust behavior toward all the people of the United State of America and around the world.
The original 1968 drawing and the 2019 painting “Cultural Rebellion” are pictured below. The painting was selected to participate in the 2020 Southwest Washington Juried Exhibition. The painting and drawing depict a young man modeling in 1968 wearing attire to express his individuality. This display of nonconforming expression toward the cultural accepted male clothing and hairstyles was common with the college students in the 60’s. Our parents and other leaders of society were outraged by the show of rebellion in our clothes; wanting social changes, and a desire for equality for all.
Today it is good to see it is not just the young rebelling against the wrongs that plague our society and political culture.