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Elder describes himself as an "artist, businessman, Texan, American, Defender of the Faith, and Homoiousian" and is the fearless leader of the MUD underground (credited with, among other things, the AlamoCam, below), Director of the HAPPY Foundation archives, and founder of the Wedding Cake Liberation Front. Re- Political Art Month, Elder writes, "Our goal [among others] is to alert galleries across America to devote some thought and time to either political, social or religious subject matter for July. . . . Join us now and add your name to the national list and start planning what [your city] will be exhibiting." To be listed, please e-mail Gene at elder4tomato at yahoo dot com.
For inspiration, check out Glasstire's List: Art Activism.
From Political Art Supporters:
The YES MEN have said "Yes" to Political Art Month and will help head up the movement between now and July, 2010 to alert all galleries, museums and art institutions across America to plan some form of Political Art presentation. Of course, writers and filmmakers and symphonies are welcome as well. Gene Elder, the Texas artist who announced July as National Political Art Month said, "See, all it takes is a good idea and others will always respond to it. I look forward to working with the YES MEN in helping artists take over the world. I mean, What would Jesus do? He was an artist! And he wanted to take over the world. So hey, Art happens."
“Throughout history, many of the most outstanding artists have made work that expresses a socially relevant viewpoint, and this is very true of numerous artists who are currently working in the twenty-first century. Gene Elder’s initiative to showcase art with a point of view promises to stimulate worthy dialog and will undoubtedly contribute greatly to our cultural life.”
"DEAR MR ELDER,
"All art is inevitably political because it influences how we see our worlds. But this connection often goes unrecognized. Good art is about changing the status quo – 'cause, God knows, the world needs improvement. Good art seems to arise from a collective, unconscious mind that sensitive artists are able to tap into. Political Art Month makes the connection clear and reveals the kind of change that is bubbling up from the Earth's unconscious mind."
"Bravo for Michael Moore's letter, Gene. And can you tell me how the hell I can peel off Obama's picture and election slogan from my car without tearing up the paint?"
"I have met Art and he is humbled that there will be a month honoring his political work.
"A few centuries ago, the Catholic Church declared comedy a sin in order to get female mimes off the streets. Obviously, the Catholic Church recognized that all art is political, as it can question, influence and change minds." and "Humor is the razor sharp edge of the truth. It is pain and anger-made funny. That is why when someone tells a homophobic joke, or racist joke, or sexist joke, they are not kidding. There is no such thing as 'just kidding'."
"Although I must disagree with your statement "Art is political for starters. Your art is your politics." if I follow it to its logical conclusion, then all art is political. Any celebration of art is a celebration of political art. Seems a bit wishy washy to me.
"When a totalitarian government takes over a country one of the first things they do is go after the Art. They know Art's power. We should celebrate our freedom by supporting our Art.
"Political Art reaches into the soul and spirit of every human being and gives emotion to otherwise intellectual issues."
"Dear Gene,
"I once asked the inimitable New York writer Grace Paley what makes a writer 'political' and she answered without hesitation, 'Tell the truth!' Words to live by."
"I was just sitting here at my desk gazing at a wonderful Daumier lithograph (it never loses its fascination for me) and thinking that Daumier couldn't have wished for a more colorful landscape from which to draw his satire than the readily available fodder we in our generation have to choose from; then again, perhaps he wouldn't want to be here witnessing the demise of newspapers as we know them, and most likely joining the hordes of the unemployed in the bargain."
"A TIME FOR ALL GOOD HUMANS TO UNBURY THEIR HEADS AND RE-ATTACH THEM TO THEIR BODY, GIVING MOTHER EARTH ANOTHER GO AT GETTING OUR ATTENTION TO VOTE TRULY AUTHENTICALLY FOR WHAT REALLY MATTERS THE HEALTH OF OUR SOUL BODY."
"Political Art?! In some respects it's only too easy. One has merely to set about observing anything closely enough to tease out some element of truth and a line is crossed. Subversion of a fantasy narrative. A political act. That said, I'd like to see what it is that especially concerns artists. Bring it on."
"I worked for two weeks at Early Voting and again on Election Day during the recent Amendments Election. I noticed that nearly everyone who came to vote was confused and asked questions. (Of course, an election worker cannot give any advice.) I can, however, give an opinion now. We need elected officials who will say what they mean and not try to obfuscate, not try to confuse, nor, dare I say, try to trick the voting public.
"Gene's initiative 'Political Art Month' is a great opportunity for local artists to express their and our views through Art. Perhaps a more sensitive, lasting, and significant freedom of expression than those yelling and screaming non-sense."
"Gene Elder is the artistic 'fly' in the ointment of civil, social and political nerve of the Alamo City's cultural scene. If you give him his way he will only team up with the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center to make all that issue raising contemporary art, GOD! will we all regret the day, ol' Gene made us think and we become aware of accountability!
"I think that when art is not about politics, it is often the politics of indifference."
"Political art is central to the cultural dialogue in any great democracy. Let's do PAM and pretend we are one."
"Can Art ever be divorced from Politics? I would think not. The lengthy history of 'Art' and 'Politics' from the dawn of time demonstrates that the two are irrevocably entwined. Whether through language, words, or images the presence of a peculiar human mode of expression is undeniable. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Middle Eastern, and Asian and so-called 'Modern culture' betrays a common sensibility linking the two apparently dissimilar forms of human expression. At least in my humble opinion."
"I've always been skeptical when an artist – or anyone else, for that matter – claims to be apolitical. Politics greatly determine the course of life, and life makes the artist, so how can you divorce one from the other? Art can provide a platform for creative examination of society’s difficult questions. I’m so glad Gene is encouraging this kind of public discussion."
"Gene is always creative and I am glad he came up with the idea of National Political Art Month. I am looking forward to July."
"Art ultimately renders a portrait of civilization, how can that not be political?"
"I think performance for me has been a really useful way for political issues and community voices to come bursting forward! I believe my mission – should I decide to accept it – as an artist and a gay man is to give witness to this challenging time, to live out loud and give that voice to my community, and to throw down a big bejeweled Liberace gauntlet to our backward society. One of the things I think performance can do quite well is to gather community into over-heated rooms in order to shine a light on systems of prejudice that are just so damn unfair. The sweaty reality of live performing has been a great place for me to cast my personal creative high beams on the tasty pleasures and nasty injustices that queer folk face. I feel lucky that I get to gather with people in cities all over the country at my shows to raise awareness, encourage activism, stir the dating pool and test-drive strategies for lesbian and gay equality. The right-this-instant heat of live performing is an especially handy cattle-prod to encourage people to get behind that steering wheel and hit the road."
"I may not know politics but I know what I like! And anything that expresses political views through art, or any other thoughtfully and intelligently executed creative process, gets my juices going! Bring on the PoliArt!!!"
"During such an important time in our history, what a wonderful time to enlighten us all with Political Art Month."
"The definitions of 'Reactionary' are 'opposed to Progress, revert to former state'. All are Reactionaries who merely wish or whine about political wars/debts/deceits.
"I dreamed in a dream, I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the whole of the rest of the earth; -- Walt Whitman, "I Dream'd in a Dream" (1860; collected in Leaves of Grass, 1900)
"Think outside the FOX."
"Gene: Yes, I love you and all of San Antonio and the HAPPY Foundation. Of course I am in total support of politcal art. What other kind is there?
"I love doing art projects that have a political motivation. Its really a huge part of the fun. The bigger the issue, the bigger the satisfaction. I simply like trying to make the world a little more how I like it to be. I highly recommend the experience to everyone.
"I may not know politics but I know what I like! And anything that expresses political views through art, or any other thoughtfully and intelligently executed creative process, gets my juices going! Bring on the PoliArt!!!"
"PAM is a must. I mean seriously – look at the WORLD."
"Often, great Art is often about the taboo. That is what makes it great……Unbelievable talent mixed with earth shattering stark reality. Otherwise it is nothing more than a picture, unless it is about the unimagined. If that is political art, then so be it."
"Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time."
"Democracy depends on, even demands, its artists. It is the role of art to provoke, as much as to entertain or edify."
"An artist sees with an immigrant's eyes, and makes novelty of the autochthonous. Like the immigrant, the artist reliably infuses society with cultural dynamism, and as reliably receives a measure of society's mistrust."
"I've always been skeptical when an artist – or anyone else, for that matter – claims to be apolitical. Politics greatly determine the course of life, and life makes the artist, so how can you divorce one from the other? Art can provide a platform for creative examination of society’s difficult questions. I’m so glad Gene is encouraging this kind of public discussion."
"Congratulations to Gene Elder for using his organizational skills to create Political Art Month. There is no better time for this than July. It is sure to set off fire works and produce sizzling art work."
"I believe we can make the world better, and I'm pretty sure we’ve got nothing better to do."
"It is always the really sick people that try to take over the world. The rest of us are content to just give a couple of cocktail parties."
"Like everyone else, I always enjoy seeing the new talented MFA artists showing off at the galleries every year. All of this is great fun, until the Titanic hits the iceberg; then all this creativity seems very frivolous and silly. And the artists that keep doing the same old stuff and only read Art in America for their information are not going to be the artists that the world needs. I want San Antonio artists and the artists from all 50 states to be the artists that the world needs."
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