The Blackness of Insanity or Misremembering in the Fog of War
War is the realm of virtual uncertainty. Three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser known unknowns. Furthermore, the state of ignorance in which commanders frequently find themselves as regards their actual strength and position, not only of their foes, but also of their allies, is quite commonplace. These paintings pay homage to military strategists like Clausewitz, Bismarck, JFK, Eisenhower and Sun Tsu who have elevated the theoretical and experiential aspects of warfare to a philosophical exercise. The paintings also are influenced by religious thinkers like Augustine whom have written treatises on when it is morally justifiable to enter into armed conflict. The 2016 “Operations” paintings in this series pay homage to the early American nuclear tests conducted with projectile capacities in the late 1950s and early 1960s. As a child who grew up in the age of mock-attack “duck and cover” classroom drills in his public school, the “Cold War” left an indelible imprint on the artist and directly contributed to his fascination with all things atomic and sub-atomic. The 2017 Ares paintings in red, black, gray and white evoke the power and might of pure aggression as symbolized through the Greek god of war.
7.5% of the proceeds of every sale will be donated to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
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Dark Hearted Elephants
“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”
- Patton (1970) -
Lady Liberty Triumphs Over Trumpism
We all agree We live to be free They can’t tell us They can’t tell us, how to be We, we all agree You individually We the people Share the power Hold the key.
- Liberty, Journey -
Black and White Impeachment Day Triptych
You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When I met you I picked you out, I shook you up And turned you around Turned you into someone new Now five years later on you’ve got the world at your feet Success has been so easy for you But don’t forget it’s me who put you where you are nowAnd I can put you back down too.
- Don't You Want Me, Human League -
Black and White Impeachment Day Painting
Let’s impeach the President for lying And misleading our country into war Abusing all the power that we gave him And shipping all our money out the door Who’s the man who hired all the criminals The White House shadows who hide behind closed doors They bend the facts to fit with their new stories Of why we have to send our men to war.
- Let's Impeach The President, Neil Young -
Intermittent Disorderly Explosions
“You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war.”
- Napoleon Bonaparte -
Apex Isolationistic-Induction
I see this life like a swinging vine, Swing my heart across the line In my face is flashing signs, Seek it out and ye shall find. Old but I’m not that old Young but I’m not that bold And I don’t think the world is sold I’m just doing what we’re told I I I I feel something so right by doing the wrong thing And I I I I feel something so wrong by doing the right thing I could lie, couldn’t I, couldn’t I? Every thing that kills me makes me feel alive.
- Counting Stars, OneRepublic -
Species-Specific Evolutionary Arms Race
“As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.”
- Vincent Van Gogh -
Defensive Anti-Predatory Solitary-Socialization
“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
- George Orwell -
Situational Territorial Dominance
“You don’t win battles with hate. Anger and hate can make you brave, make you strong, but they also make you stupid. You end up tripping over your own two feet.”
- Hadrian -
Ares III
Ares insatiable in battle, blazing like the light of burning fire in his armour and standing in his chariots, and his running horses trampled and dented the ground with their hooves . . . And all the grove and the altar . . . were lighted up by the dread god, Ares, himself and his armour, and the shining from his eyes was like fire . . . manslaughtering Ares screaming aloud, courses all over the sacred grove.
- Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 56 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic 8th or 7th Century B.C.)