Monday Moods: Hopeful for the Future

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Saturday afternoon was the opening of the latest community art show. My co-chair had a schedule conflict so I was solo in hosting the opening reception and it was great fun. The theme is 250 Years of Red White and Blue. Some took this literally and included red, white and blue in their art, others interpreted this to mean things that celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

Many of the contributors talked about their work, I spoke for those who were not there. Everyone was brief, we moved through at a nice pace. 

One that I described is a photo of a car with political bumper stickers on the back of it. Why would we include that image? Well, what is more American than expressing our political opinions? The contributor explained in her submission, that she had parked at a shopping center and came out to find a note on her car, disagreeing with her political bumper stickers, and I have to think "what is more American than disagreeing with politics?" We can have differing points of view, we can express our political views, we don't have to agree - except to agree that others are allowed to have their views. When I said this in the reception, everyone across the political spectrum nodded and expressed agreement. This country was founded on political and economic differences. *

There is a four canvas mixed media work talking about the struggle for women's rights.  A really neat piece. 

I challenge our neighbors to be creative. The next show goes up in early August on a theme of "Explosion of Color." I urged those at the reception, if you don't have something for this show, you have a month to create something. Go for it. 

* A struggle on total freedom of thought, is at what point do we limit hate speech? And how do we keep those limits from becoming tyranny? 

** The sculpture above. The artist has a studio in the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, they meticulously cut layer after layer of fiberboard to form the shape, then paint the work in amazing colors. I should take a sculpture class someday.