On the stump
Political art shows abound during election season
This fall feels like a crux in the history of American democracy, and traditional media has largely fallen flat on its face trying to be objective about it. Reporting on this year’s election, in the words of New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen, should be about “the odds, not the stakes.”
Journalists don’t seem to have figured out a way to get past old models of campaign coverage. They cover giant, evolving stories on the fly, trying to package stories. Artists, in the meantime, have been picking apart the myth of objectivity for decades. They strive to open inquiries (good journalism does, too, but it’s hard on deadline). The very question of American democracy – what is it? How do we make it work? – is at the center of this election season’s roster of local exhibitions. I wrote a roundup for the Globe.
Some of the shows dive into that open question (Bethany Collins, America: A Hymnal” at Peabody Essex Museum; “Power of the People: Art and Democracy” at the MFA, where you’ll find Shepard Fairey’s poster above).
Others respond more directly, and with strong opinions, to today’s moment, such as “Tiny Pricks Project: Desperate Times, Creative Measures,” featuring the stitchery of Diana Weymar and others who took it upon themselves to embroider the words of Donald Trump and others over the last several years. Then, there’s “Cats for Kamala” at Berta Walker Gallery, because Berta, like Taylor Swift, is a childless cat lady and can use her soapbox to make her opinion clear.
These exhibitions and more in my story in the Globe.
Cate, thank you for this article! Political art was so NOT on my radar screen. And I loved this. Especially the "Cats for Kamala" print. You brought a big smile to my face!