Barack Obama Commandeers Art Gallery in Richmond, VA
So what of it if a political candidate decides to speak at the art gallery of their choice and wants a few paintings taken down so that they can put up a more campaign-like backdrop? So what if it was demanded and not requested? Isn't it true that all it takes is a few pop culture influenced paintings to give the wrong impression of a candidate?
Let me get this straight - you come to speak at a downtown art gallery - Planet Zero in Richmond, VA, to be exact - so you can show how multifaceted you are and how supportive of the arts you are, and in the process, impede the expression of art in doing so.
How disappointing. The worst part is that you're a Democratic candidate and so many people want to believe in you right now. If you were Republican, then the story might not be getting so watered down and excused.
All I can think is that maybe this gallery is the world's sole, one-wall gallery. Imagine all of a gallery's paintings hung on just one wall. So much offensive art to be covered up for the sake of democracy. Make room for patriotic imagery!
Patriotic to what- the first amendment and cultural diversity? or, patriotic to hypocrisy and outward appearances?
Here is a blog about the same issue with a slightly more forgiving slant.
Let me get this straight - you come to speak at a downtown art gallery - Planet Zero in Richmond, VA, to be exact - so you can show how multifaceted you are and how supportive of the arts you are, and in the process, impede the expression of art in doing so.
How disappointing. The worst part is that you're a Democratic candidate and so many people want to believe in you right now. If you were Republican, then the story might not be getting so watered down and excused.
All I can think is that maybe this gallery is the world's sole, one-wall gallery. Imagine all of a gallery's paintings hung on just one wall. So much offensive art to be covered up for the sake of democracy. Make room for patriotic imagery!
Patriotic to what- the first amendment and cultural diversity? or, patriotic to hypocrisy and outward appearances?
Here is a blog about the same issue with a slightly more forgiving slant.
posted by Clarissa @ 11:50 PM
5 Comments:
At Friday, May 29, 2009 at 6:03:00 PM EDT,
Anonymous said…
I don't see anything here about what the "other" candidates did. Palin in her governorship having certain books removed from her local library. ...adn talk about no support of the arts? What the hell have we been living with for the past 8 years, the "artist's president"? Sure, I don't support taking down artwork to make a prettier backdrop for the cameras, but consider the alternative. What a twit you've become.
At Friday, May 29, 2009 at 6:55:00 PM EDT,
Clarissa said…
FYI: This was written before Palin was even in the picture. I pointed out this story because it was getting hushed up from the very start and I knew it wouldn't make it far. It disturbed me that the Superman candidate was already wielding power in such an oppressive way. Shouldn't these things be brought into the light? Wow - "a twit" huh? I guess I haven't been verbally attacked over my writing before so I'm not sure how to approach a response. Obviously, you knew me in another space and time - so this makes the energetic criticism a little punchier. Maybe you could let me know who I was such a different person to or for...
At Monday, June 1, 2009 at 12:31:00 PM EDT,
Anonymous said…
Oh please. "Verbally attacked" is a little strong. "Twit" is kind of endearing, isn't it? Anyway, if you're slingin' accusations, judgements, and whatnot in a public forum, you should expect to take a little heat. ...especially when you're wrong.
See, the funny thing is - I don't particularly LOVE Obama myself. It's not like he isn't a tricky, slick politician himself. On the contrary - for every two steps he takes forward, he takes one back.
My problem with your rhetoric is that you're spewing catch-phrases of the "right" about Obama and the media instead of viewing him in context.
Is Obabma the second coming? Good grief, no. Is he leaps and bounds better than what we've been saddled with over the past eight years. Holy guacamole, yes.
Take this art gallery fiasco as an example. Is it slimy? Yup. No question. A publicity stunt that backfired for sure. ...but, it certainly isn't the President manipulating an attack on our nation to engage a personal war. It isn't the government digging a financial grave for us over an eight-year span. I'll take a little sleaziness over what we've been screwed by for the past two terms.
Is Obama's economic plan the saviour for us all? By no means. Is the current state of affairs his doing? You'd have to be an idiot to say yes. Eight years of economic and foreign policy blunders have dug us in a hole this deep, not 100+ DAYS of the Obama administration.
So, you're right to question the current administration. ...but to indicate there's some sort of conspiracy to promote and defend him by a "left-wing media". Please. You're just espousing catch-phrases that the "right-wing" media uses (and there is such a thing - practically all talk radio, all FOX stations and affiliates). "Superman candidate", "Activist judges", blah blah blah.
I think the biggest problem right now is that you're just pouty about the results of the election. You wanted the Bush legacy to live on. ...which puzzles the crap outta me.
At Monday, June 1, 2009 at 1:19:00 PM EDT,
Clarissa said…
You certainly have a lot to say... I think I may be at the threshold for bantering with someone who is afraid to admit who they are to me (since you claim to know me personally). I'm also losing my mojo for this back and forth because you seem to want to put me in a right-wing box which I find partly amusing and partly annoying.
By the way, I implied - what you strongly labeled "a conspiracy," because the people who personlly handled the art gallery at that time didn't want to talk about the story because they are fans of Obama. So, do I believe that they would have complained if McCain had pulled the same? - hell yes! Would I have told the story if it had been a rep. candidate? That's a maybe - you know why? Because people EXPECT that from the right. The story honestly wouldn't have been as shocking.
But seriously, please tell me that you can see how Obama is beloved by the mainstream. At least give me that. You don't have to love, like or hate him to see it! And truly, why wouldn't they? He has a spectacular presence and speaking ability - which we all were deprived of for 8 years - oh yeah, and the media does tend to lean a little to the left. It's the way it is. Also, admit that you don't have any clue how I voted in the past election - unless you are someone I know currently and pretty well- which actually does give me the creeps.
That's the problem with strict lovers of the left or lovers of the right - they often want to put everyone else in a box. It seems to be all or nothing. If you don't support their candidate or ideas then you must be the opposite of them, therefore, an idiot or worse. If you knew ANYTHING about me at all, then you would know that I like to think outside the box - even when it pisses people off.
So, although you certainly have the right to the freedom of speech (which was my big beef about Obama at the art gallery) when you comment here, I think it would be effective for you to leave the personal evaluation of who I am, was or what I've done out of it - unless you want to reveal your most mysterious self. Since you seem like a somewhat intelligent person, it also seems that you would see the fairness in leveling the playing ground. I mean - at the very least, give me a few clues. As soon as I figure out who you are, I'm sure I'd be overjoyed to continue the discussion of what a right-winged, Fox News watching, soccer mom you think I am.
At Monday, June 1, 2009 at 1:46:00 PM EDT,
Anonymous said…
No personal knowledge of you beforehand - have simply read your blog for a while. ...and the way I know who you voted for is that you wrote it in one of your entries - you voted for Bush the "first time". That's all I've alluded to.
Thanks for giving me the credit of being "somewhat intelligent". :)
So, let's assume that neither of us is a "strict lover" of the right or left, as you put it. I'm not a pinko, you're not a fascist. I completely get your points of the media adoration of Obama, and about the annoyance caused by this gallery stunt.
But, you're the one who came out guns a-blazin' a number of times about the "Superman Candidate", having voted for Bush in the past.
...simply goes against what you've written in the past, and I found it distressing, is all.
Okeedoke, I'll not post again since it irks you and "creeps you out". I'd recommend a thicker skin or withdrawing from the public debate arena.
Have a good life, -Phil
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