Guilt by Association or Labeling Practices in
Northern Idaho |
40" x 48" |
Oil |
This is a fairly large painting of Adolph Hitler on the beach of Coeur d’Alene Lake, Idaho. He has just been alerted to his surroundings by the rotors of the black helicopters moving across the picture plane on the right. The pattern on the lounge chair is camo and the pattern on Adolph’s trunks is swastika. He has been sipping on a 7-Eleven Big Gulp and listening to a tape of Wagner on his Walkman and reading an article in Spotlight Magazine. Tubbs Hill as well as the Coeur d’Alene Resort have spontaneously combusted. The lead helicopter appears to be dropping a fine mist of an unknown substance on a black couple and their dog as Adolph nudges his female companion with his right foot. On the left over Adolph’s head is some UFO activity.
Shortly after the Second World War was over my father subscribed to the Police Gazette magazine which I remember reading as a child. Quite often the publication would have a feature story about the supposed sighting of Adolph Hitler in Argentina or Paraguay or Brazil. So this was part of my inspiration for this painting. Idaho used to be known throughout the civilized world as the producer of fine potatoes. Now it is known as home to the Neo-Nazis. White the potatoes are homegrown, the Neo-Nazis are transplants. Since Hitler has become the universal symbol for evil, everything in the picture with him becomes tainted by association. |
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