Thursday, August 27, 2009

NEA Fresh Out of Crucifixes


Know what was creepy about the old CCCP posters? It wasn't the design, some of them were quite good, it was the fact that the government sanctioned them. I've often wondered, when finding one I really like: what did the artist feel about his work? Were these artists comitted communists? Or were they workmen, just putting food on the table? It's probably too late to find out.



No matter, soon we'll have our own State Artists to ask.

On Thursday August 6th, [Patrick Courrielche ] was invited by the National Endowment for the Arts to attend a conference call scheduled for Monday August 10th hosted by the NEA, the White House Office of Public Engagement, and United We Serve. The call would include “a group of artists, producers, promoters, organizers, influencers, marketers, taste-makers, leaders or just plain cool people to join together and work together to promote a more civically engaged America and celebrate how the arts can be used for a positive change!”

Never mind that artists who had stocked up on urine, mason jars, and crucifixes now have to change their medium in order to participate in NEA grants. What tics me off is the fact that I'm now going to be "persuaded" with my own tax dollars.
We were encouraged to bring the same sense of enthusiasm to these “focus areas” as we had brought to Obama’s presidential campaign, and we were encouraged to create art and art initiatives that brought awareness to these issues. Throughout the conversation, we were reminded of our ability as artists and art professionals to “shape the lives” of those around us. The now famous Obama “Hope” poster, created by artist Shepard Fairey and promoted by many of those on the phone call, and will.i.am’s “Yes We Can” song and music video were presented as shining examples of our group’s clear role in the election.

I'd say, "Just shoot me now," but I'm not sure our current Overlords wouldn't oblige. They could call it performance art. See? We shot him, get it?

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