Political Art – Does it make a Difference?

For an artist, it isn’t enough to envision, create, and wallow in paint up to your elbows. You have to read about art. Indulge your muse. Suspend your free time thumbing through art magazines to expand your knowledge. You have to scour what’s out there for knowledge and inspiration.

I’ve been doing just that by reading B.A. Shapiro’s latest novel “The Muralist.” Now I can see her in person on Tuesday, January 12 at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. Shapiro will be there in person to sign her new book and discuss its plot and characters with attendees.

"From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Art Forger comes a thrilling new novel of art, history, love, and politics that traces the life and mysterious disappearance of a brilliant young artist on the eve of World War II."

The book keeps me turning pages. Of course, it’s about a time period that has always intrigued me, and about the horrors that engulfed the entire world; but especially the Jewish people. Hitler and his minions hated, pursued, and incinerated millions of Jewish victims.


Shapiro not only covers the history well, but she knows art which makes the book that much more important on your lists of “must read.”

Many artists through the centuries have made political statements through their art, but most have avoided it as being too “in your face” or detrimental to their personal success. Some brave pioneers used art as a platform to voice their own strong feelings and to influence their audiences.

"Vik Muniz Photographer and mixed-media artist best known for repurposing everyday materials for intricate and heavily layered re-creations of canonical artworks. Muniz works in a range of media, from trash to peanut butter and jelly, the latter used to recreate Warhol’s famous Double Mona Lisa. 

"Layered appropriation is a consistent theme in Muniz’s work: in 2008, he undertook a large-scale project in Brazil, photographing trash-pickers as figures from emblematic   paintings, such as Jacques-Louis David’s “Neoclassical Death of Marat, and then recreating the photographs in large-scale arrangements of trash. The project was documented in the 2010 film Waste Land in an attempt to raise awareness for urban poverty. Muniz explained the work as a “step away from the realm of fine art,” wanting instead to “change the lives of people with the same materials they deal with every day.”

Others, like Thomas Hart Benton, passionately document history. War correspondents and artists fall into this category. This is why some people become angry when others in later generations wish to discredit or discard offensive images that were an actual part of history. Once we destroy history, we chip away at our own identities. History should stand, whether we like it or not.

Slavery is abhorrent to us now. It is a part of our history that we’re ashamed of and wish hadn't happened. But we can learn from our mistakes and vow never to make the same ones again. We can learn from the horrors of Hitler. The German people would like to bury this part of their past, but they haven’t. We and they must keep even the horrors of our past so that later generations will remember and perhaps be saved from repeating the same mistakes.

Our country seems intent on following in Europe’s footsteps. But, instead, we should learn from them:

Socialism has brought financial ruin. A flood of refugees has changed the face of many major cities across the globe.

The whole world is teetering on the brink of disaster. We would be fools to ignore what has happened and think we know best, that it can’t happen here because we’re just too damn smart.

All it takes is a few concessions here, a blind eye there, a white lie behind closed doors, and a willingness to ignore the obvious right in front of our collective noses.


If an artist or a writer can awaken us to the truth, all the better.

(Charles McNaughton, artist -- and below)

The Enemy you Know is usually better than the One you don’t

#hopeful in India, 24x18 acrylic on canvas

I have a curious mind. As a writer, I delve into various subjects and interview interesting people as I pursue a story or simply to satisfy my curiosity. Friends and relatives caution me about going in the wrong direction; but what I’ve discovered is that I become even more self-assured in the anchor that holds me to reality and truth.

In my moves and travels around the world, I’ve gained a sense of appreciation for all human beings. The majority are simple, good-hearted people who just want to live their lives in peace. By the ongoing turmoil and the natural disasters that occur many have far more struggles than they can handle or even deserve.

Giving life meaning and purpose is important to many. Participating in a good “cause.” Helping a neighbor or friend. Feeling good about yourself at the end of the day. These simple pleasures ranked high on their “satisfaction” list.

In the oncoming weeks, American’s patience will be tested again by the influx of 10,000 Muslim refugees. Less than three years ago, we were asked to welcome 1.8 million immigrants under the age of 31 from Mexico. The so-called “Dream Act” or “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) program. Created to suspend the deportation of this sizable influx of illegal Mexican runaways.

America is a sinking ship. We are nearly 20 trillion dollars in debt to a powerful communist regime that could annihilate us if they so choose. Now we are asked to accept an even greater burden while over 50% of our own citizens are on welfare. American debt keeps rising, our own people are hurting and now we are expected to do the "humanitarian” thing and bring more people aboard.

To politicians, these “potential voters” are desirable cargo. Made me think of those Titanic survivors who clung to their life rafts. Extra people tried to get aboard, but the rafts would sink losing all. There were simply not enough rafts to support any more people. Hordes of people drowned. A few survivors were left to tell the tale.

The discussed refugees are also from countries that have repeatedly sworn not only to hate America, but to destroy her. Diabolical as it is, most nations and  countries are usually destroyed from within. Inviting our enemies to slowly take over our country is not the same as feeding them and sending them first aid supplies and help. Think about it. Saudi Arabia won’t take these refugees into their country, even though they are of the same ethnic background.

"Prayer Circles" oil on acrylic background

History and current affairs around the world have shown us that their intentions are not “peaceful.”  They have affected the freedoms of every country where they have infiltrated. No I am not advising hatred. What I am saying is that we should offer them food, clothing, health assistance and protection, if necessary, but leave them in their homeland.

We should also encourage other Arab nations to invite these refugees into their tents and living rooms. Perhaps if we had left well enough alone in the first place, Isis would not have taken over the Middle East. Sometimes the “enemy you know” is better than the enemy that rises up to take over the void.

"Belly Dancer" 11x14 acrylic on canvas