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Thursday, July 06, 2006

Liberty with Cross



As a person who likes all aspects of modern art, I am indeed torn by the World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church new $260,000. replica of the Statue of Liberty with cross in hand as opposed to beacon in hand. This is in Memphis. article

"Self portrait with apocalyptic megalomania", "self portrait with mindless vacant eye", "self portrait with delusional grandeur", these are titles of artwork that appeal to my sensibilities. "Liberty with mink", "Liberty with heels", "Liberty with slit mini-skirt", similarly, more titles that inspire my imagination.

"Lady Liberty with Cross", I have mixed to negative reviews. As a conceptual piece it is fair. In a b grade Soho gallery it smacks of politics and religion as is melded by our present White House resident and his devotees. This would be a political piece and yet if it were indeed 72 feet tall, the humor would be double edged, as it cuts in the direction of in your face reflection of areas of contemporary America and over produced yet slightly ultra-rightist kitsch, another indicator of absurd consumerism.

Finally I do admit I have a third reaction. America is not a fundamentalist religio-politico-rightist-entity. Do what you may to shove this notion oh zealot of the divine, oh great understanderer of necessity, oh decider of fate and future with faulty facility. This is not what America is. You do not reflect America, you are out of your beacon skull.

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