NewsNew Book Entitled "American Beauty"
Download a PDF file of American Beauty for a sneak preview. On American Beauty. It's been a body of work, on going since the turn of this century. The images hail the protesting cheer of subversity. They are raw and rowdy, political and candy. Have a look on them and enjoy. There's a little something for everybody... If you want to see more of this persons work visit the Carl Hammer Gallery.
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From: JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Judy. Yeah, you wrapped it up. The Secret Service went out to Chicago to take a look at this art exhibit called "Axis of Evil," and they were interested in a particular piece called "Patriot Act." It was that postage stamp piece that had President Bush's head with a gun pointed at it. A lot of the blogs talking about this. We start out with jquinton.com (ph), Back Country Conservative. And Jeff Quinton (ph) over there has the "Chicago Sun Times" article that just came out referring to the Secret Service visit. He's also got a round-up of some of the bloggers who are talking about it, some on the left and some on the right who are discussing it. Over on the right, they're saying that this is an issue of liberal hate-mongering. Conservative Groundswell saying that "apparently some artists just don't get where the line between decency and impropriety is drawn. Sane people all recognize when the line has been crossed, while liberals find it excruciatingly difficult." CAL CHAMBERLAIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Then we have coming over on the left at Calvin's Corner blog. Calvin Cortez (ph) is a blogger from Chicago, and he says, "No Bush supporter, believe you me," and goes on to give a little background about the artist and says, "This guy, Michael Hernandez de Luna, is no stranger to the feds. He was cited for another risque art exhibit did he back in 2001 which contained a skull and cross bones and bore the name anthrax." And he says, " He took a little bit of heat from that. And now he's obviously been flagged for his involvement." So, I don't know, what it sounds like, he's kind of hyping his art. We have sort of a moderate stance from Art of Idiocy blog. The name of the blogger is The Artist Extraordinaire." He says, "It's depressing that the only time artist gets any coverage is when a controversy like this boils up." And then he goes on to say, "Is this the most efficient use of our Secret Service agents? You'd have to be a complete idiot to think a the stamp in an art show is an actual threat to the physical-being of the president. But then again, if something did happen, you'd be even more of an idiot for not investigating something so out in the open." So... SCHECHNER: Perhaps the best post of all on this at theamericanmind.com. "Overreaction to Bad Art." They say this is "the artist's version of shock and awe," and he's "shocked the Secret Service even bothered with such awful art." I can't resist a good pun. I'm really sorry.
The Axis of Evil: The Secret History of SinInternational Art ExhibitCurated by postage stamp artist Michael Hernandez de Luna, the work in AXIS OF EVIL speaks directly and bluntly about present day issues, such as the war in Iraq, September 11, American foreign policy amongst other current events. The carnival of images resulting in AXIS OF EVIL is a provocative visual labyrinth of social commentary that reflects a historical parallel to protest art of the 60's and 70's.
See sample art work from "The Secret History of Sin" Columbia Chronicle Online article about exhibition and investigation
Chicago Tribune ArticleART REVIEW Artists display sticker shock By Alan G. Artner Two weeks have passed since agents of the U.S. Secret Service visited "Axis of Evil: The Secret History of Sin," the international exhibition of stamp art at Columbia College Chicago's Glass Curtain Gallery, and as of this writing little at the show beyond increased attendance -- 200 visitors each day -- has changed. "The art is still in place," said Tom Mazur, Washington spokesman for the Secret Service. "Nothing additional has transpired. We don't discuss our protective methods unless charges are filed." This means that Al Brandtner's "Patriot Act," which shows a gun pointed at the head of President George W. Bush, has not (as was initially suggested by WFLD-Ch. 32) caused a scandal equal to the 1988 painting of Mayor Harold Washington in women's underwear, and none of the 47 artists had their works seized or incurred legal action (as was initially feared by curator/artist Michael Hernandez de Luna). For the moment, then, the exhibition is "just" an exhibition, not a circus on the order of past shows with works by Robert Mapplethorpe, Andres Serrano and Scott Tyler. People at the gallery acknowledge they continue to get e-mails for and against the works presented but otherwise decline to answer questions regarding the agents' visit, so maybe now discussions can focus on what actually is there instead of on artists' motives that have been largely imagined. "Axis of Evil" contains sheets of artist-designed stamps from 11 countries. Because such stamps often are affixed to envelopes and sent through the mail, the work is a branch of correspondence art, which has been a recognized international movement since the early 1960s. However, because none of the stamps on view was used that way, the element of art as a guerrilla activity is not emphasized, though the theme of the show ensured that art would still be seen as an instrument of social protest. The kinds of images found on the stamps are familiar from posters encountered at political rallies. There, of course, they preach to a choir that shares the same point of view, and no matter how overstated the criticism or broad the humor no one is offended. A gallery, on the other hand, is a venue that potentially serves visitors of every viewpoint, so the risk of giving offense is continuous. Hence, the call to the Secret Service almost immediately after the exhibition opened. Owing to a number of images that ridicule the president and members of his administration, the show has been called "anti-Bush" when, in fact, its theme is much broader. It addresses not just politicians of both major parties in the United States, but different political systems, the clergy, corporations, war, television, terrorism, gun culture, cigarette smokers and despoilers of the natural landscape in addition to the Seven Deadly Sins treated in art and literature. Few of the images are subtle; as with posters, the messages on stamps have to be conveyed forcefully, in an instant. This makes the prospect of their getting through the mail so delicious, for each stamp is usually perfectly clear as to what it's about and, even so, passes undetected under the noses of people at some of the institutions being criticized. When shown, as here, in pristine sheets and blocks, its harder for the viewer to get that prankish aspect, but once grasped, the subversive humor lightens the tone of even more gruesome images. Most of the stamps on display are representational and hard-edged when not actually photographic. One reason would seem to be for the sake of clarity. But the issues being dealt with are, for all the artists' abrasiveness and desire to shock, issues of common humanity that demand a style and treatment comprehendible by everyone. Now is a time in national politics when independent thinkers are portrayed as heretics and accused of going "against people of faith." Such a time requires more protest rather than less. The artists on view are doing it. Never mind if the means are often crude and the humor adolescent. They are concerned about us all, even if some of us are too comfortable to want to see it. ---------- "Axis of Evil: The Secret History of Sin" continues at the Columbia College Chicago Glass Curtain Gallery, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., through May 11. 312-344-6643. aartner@tribune.com
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