Short Version: Art imitates life, and the legal system promises justice for all. How can we as artists reconcile the fantasy of those words with the reality of creating within and living with unevenly applied laws?
In a sense, I am both dreading and anticipating the volley of art, books, and tee shirts this whole Ferguson ordeal is going to inspire, and the billions of dollars in commerce that it’s sure to produce for both individuals and corporations. Art imitates life, so it goes. On one hand, the politically passionate have a way to make their voices heard, and the creative their ideas spread. On the other, financial majorities can get even more ammo to forge stronger alliances with their respective local governments. There is a sense of dirty, flirtatious cynicism in the whole cycle that I’d rather not condone, but cannot deny the effectiveness of. The essential problem is one of survival and emotional honesty. How can we artists and makers advance the spiritual, visual and intellectual power of our creations while reacting against participating in a process that increases our dependence on a corrupt system? It's a hard balance for an artist to strike, but as artists Molly Crabapple and Damon Davis show, it can be done.
In a sense, I am both dreading and anticipating the volley of art, books, and tee shirts this whole Ferguson ordeal is going to inspire, and the billions of dollars in commerce that it’s sure to produce for both individuals and corporations. Art imitates life, so it goes. On one hand, the politically passionate have a way to make their voices heard, and the creative their ideas spread. On the other, financial majorities can get even more ammo to forge stronger alliances with their respective local governments. There is a sense of dirty, flirtatious cynicism in the whole cycle that I’d rather not condone, but cannot deny the effectiveness of. The essential problem is one of survival and emotional honesty. How can we artists and makers advance the spiritual, visual and intellectual power of our creations while reacting against participating in a process that increases our dependence on a corrupt system? It's a hard balance for an artist to strike, but as artists Molly Crabapple and Damon Davis show, it can be done.
From @damondavis on Instagram.
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