SHOCK AND AWE! Paintings of a President Un-Elect:
Blake SANDBERG exhibited 20 or so paintings and drawings of, or related to President
George W. Bush in 2004. The title of the show of course re-uses the "Shock and Awe"
title of the bombing campaign beginning the siege of Baghdad, here it is used more to
imply surprise and marvel at the Presidents actions. The "President Un-Elect" refers to
the fact that President Bush may not have actually been elected President in 2000.
The artist attempted to present Bush in a way that was not slandering him, merely
mocking him, or depicting him as many artists had at that time as a Nazi or Evil demon
but as a figure in the vein of political satire of comics.
This relationship to political satirical art places them in an art historical context as well.
Several of the paintings even include references to famous works of art or artists.
So in these paintings SANDBERG does not only "smear" Bush but instead tries to point
out some of the odd choices he makes with repeated phrases, like "Real American" and
"Smoke 'Em Out" or "Route 'Em Out." Also, in the way he allows himself to be
photographed as in the Crawford Ranch images taken prior to 9/11, playing up his
macho cowboy mystique.
This is reflected in "21st Century John Wayne Stereotype," which directly references
the supposed "Cowboy-ness" of George W. The portrait is almost equal parts John
Wayne and George W. depending on the angle you look at it.
"Route 'Em Out" shows a cartoon "W." as the proud hunter over a vanquished
"Saddum." Posed like a big game hunter over the kill, the boyish George - who's head
seems too small for his body becomes a comic "Elmer The Fudd." One of the sketches
for this painting includes a cartoon of George as Elmer "Huntin' Wabbits' - the "wabbits"
are terrorists and Saddam Hussain, Osama Bin Ladin. This painting has all the
elements of a great political Satire cartoon, a cross-reference of pop culture, a
caricature image of the subject, and as one might hope a hilarity about it.
"Real American" addresses one of Bush's favorite phrases. Sandberg takes Bush's
statement at face value and turns it inside-out. He does this in grand fashion by placing
a Native American headdress on Bush's head. This completely ridiculous image is
striking, confounding, and also truly hilarious - because almost no one in the U.S. is
really American! We are "Real" Americans by location and by our Nationality but not by
ancient birth right or Geography. The "Real" Native peoples of this land were decimated
and pushed off their tribal lands by Anglo, European settlers, some our ancestors! Thus
this is a very important work of modern satire and a good jab at the Bush Presidency
and the rhetoric and phrases used in public address.
The series also included a number of pictures relating to oil, executions - the former
Governor was well known for the number of criminals given the death penalty while he
was in office, and the events of 9/11.
These works display a range of images and satirical portraits of George W. Bush that
few other artists today have created, in a way that does not merely smear Bush as
President but actually comments on him as a person and a public and political figure.
Ironically this was not enough not to get the paintings and the whole show omitted from
the local papers in Austin. One paper after sending a reporter to review, photograph
and interview the artist later did not run the story. The fear surrounding this Presidency
and gripping this Nation cannot stop artists and any of it's citizens who believe in free
speech and the rights of it's people to live free and speak their minds, opinions, or ideas
- or in Blake Sandberg's way - painting them!
Blake SANDBERG exhibited 20 or so paintings and drawings of, or related to President
George W. Bush in 2004. The title of the show of course re-uses the "Shock and Awe"
title of the bombing campaign beginning the siege of Baghdad, here it is used more to
imply surprise and marvel at the Presidents actions. The "President Un-Elect" refers to
the fact that President Bush may not have actually been elected President in 2000.
The artist attempted to present Bush in a way that was not slandering him, merely
mocking him, or depicting him as many artists had at that time as a Nazi or Evil demon
but as a figure in the vein of political satire of comics.
This relationship to political satirical art places them in an art historical context as well.
Several of the paintings even include references to famous works of art or artists.
So in these paintings SANDBERG does not only "smear" Bush but instead tries to point
out some of the odd choices he makes with repeated phrases, like "Real American" and
"Smoke 'Em Out" or "Route 'Em Out." Also, in the way he allows himself to be
photographed as in the Crawford Ranch images taken prior to 9/11, playing up his
macho cowboy mystique.
This is reflected in "21st Century John Wayne Stereotype," which directly references
the supposed "Cowboy-ness" of George W. The portrait is almost equal parts John
Wayne and George W. depending on the angle you look at it.
"Route 'Em Out" shows a cartoon "W." as the proud hunter over a vanquished
"Saddum." Posed like a big game hunter over the kill, the boyish George - who's head
seems too small for his body becomes a comic "Elmer The Fudd." One of the sketches
for this painting includes a cartoon of George as Elmer "Huntin' Wabbits' - the "wabbits"
are terrorists and Saddam Hussain, Osama Bin Ladin. This painting has all the
elements of a great political Satire cartoon, a cross-reference of pop culture, a
caricature image of the subject, and as one might hope a hilarity about it.
"Real American" addresses one of Bush's favorite phrases. Sandberg takes Bush's
statement at face value and turns it inside-out. He does this in grand fashion by placing
a Native American headdress on Bush's head. This completely ridiculous image is
striking, confounding, and also truly hilarious - because almost no one in the U.S. is
really American! We are "Real" Americans by location and by our Nationality but not by
ancient birth right or Geography. The "Real" Native peoples of this land were decimated
and pushed off their tribal lands by Anglo, European settlers, some our ancestors! Thus
this is a very important work of modern satire and a good jab at the Bush Presidency
and the rhetoric and phrases used in public address.
The series also included a number of pictures relating to oil, executions - the former
Governor was well known for the number of criminals given the death penalty while he
was in office, and the events of 9/11.
These works display a range of images and satirical portraits of George W. Bush that
few other artists today have created, in a way that does not merely smear Bush as
President but actually comments on him as a person and a public and political figure.
Ironically this was not enough not to get the paintings and the whole show omitted from
the local papers in Austin. One paper after sending a reporter to review, photograph
and interview the artist later did not run the story. The fear surrounding this Presidency
and gripping this Nation cannot stop artists and any of it's citizens who believe in free
speech and the rights of it's people to live free and speak their minds, opinions, or ideas
- or in Blake Sandberg's way - painting them!
SHOCK AND AWE!
"21st Century John Wayne Stereotype" 38"x38" 2004
Installation view, includes images of 9/11 imagery
"Route 'Em Out," sketch for the painting, and "Oil"
Installation view includes "President Un-Elect," "The Re-Packaging of America,"
"Think Different," "Oil," and "1600 Pennsylvania"
"Think Different," "Oil," and "1600 Pennsylvania"
"Real American" 38"x38" 2004
