Strange Fruit

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Marc, Marijn, thank you. It is ironic that just when I finished taking pictures and posting this D. W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" was on television last night and if you are familiar with this silent movie classic you will know that it partially covers the beginnings of the KKK in this country.

<Soapbox time>

Let me talk of racism a bit. America is a great country but it has achieved greatness at a very high price. Many innocent people have paid that price and to a larger extent are still paying that price. I have been fortunate enough to see clearly from a very early age. Not just clearly but lucidly the fact that we all are faced with the same existential problems no matter who we are or what our ethnic background may be. That understanding has allowed me to see people for what they truly are and not for what they appear to be. Now while I can be selective in terms of who I like and don't like as human beings I cannot find it in myself to fault anyone for what they look like. Why would I? Why would anyone?

Racism is not founded on ignorance as many think. It is founded on arrogance. When some group of people feels superior to any other group just because of superficial differences and they use that superiority to persecute, condemn, or otherwise repress whole groups of people to reinforce their perceived superiority, you will always have racism. I do not think it is so easy to eradicate through education. I do not think my model will change anyone's opinion.

All I want is for people to learn to see lucidly that this type of behavior on the part of human beings can only be dispelled through humility, understanding and compassion for all of us who face the same problems with being a human and living in a complex and dangerous world. As an artist I feel compelled to strengthen the bonds that hold the human fabric together to the benefit of all. If I can do that in terms that everone can understand then I think I have accomplished, in a very small way, giving people a glimpse of how the world once was and may still be if we do not make every effort to truly open our eyes and accept the fact that, in the terms of the great American Thomas Paine, we either hang together or we hang seperately. I think the human race has paid enough for this epiphany and it is time to bury these arrogant tendencies once and for all.

<end soapbox>
 
Looking atthe scene as a dioramist i must say that is apowerful and well executed scene. I like the coloring choices and the pictorial result is a lot in my likings. Aboutthe historicalissue, maybe its unpleasent , but since its truth and history, and we recreate history under scale , so i guess its just a matter of choosing subjects .

Very well done my friend . i really like it
 
WELL DONE, Bob (y) (y) !!! You've managed indeed to do justice to a sensitive and unpleasant subject matter. Cheers !
Kenneth.
 
Bob, we missed you at MFCA. I was hoping to see this in person. Oh well, stuff happens.

I think you have treated a sensitive subject accurately and fairly. It IS disturbing, and it shoud be. Hats off to a great piece that makes the viewer think.
 
Bob, I can't wait to see this piece in person, it's another masterpiece (if a bit distrubing), very accurate. BTW I just sent the link to two of my prof'swho are both historians of African American history
 
Bob,

When I see this work it makes me angry and sad. It’s a very tragic work.

Your composition has a tremendous amount of movement to it both horizontally and vertically while the colors help to keep the eye near the center of mass. The colors are very warm in the center yet that’s not a place you want to be; however your eye is continually drawn there.

It’s jarring and uncomfortable and your moves as an artist are very effective in reinforcing that. One cannot view this work casually; indifferently.

Curiously enough I believe that this work presents historical fact without editorial bias because it could be argued that it is being presented from one of many different points of view. (blacks, whites, racists, activists, indifferent politicians, etc.) I can envision many polemic reactions to this work. I guess that’s where the emotions start to take over for me but then again perhaps that’s whole point…

I know squat about figures but I am always inspired or challenged by your work.

Best Regards,
Bill
 
To my delight, this piece won Best of Show at the recent Long Island Show. A very nice show I might add with some terrific work by Mike Blank, Greg De Franco, Lou Masses, Penny Meyer, Ian McKenzie and many others from the US, Canda and Europe. I have been going for the last few years and it has always been a rewarding experience.
 
Bob,

A well Desirved BOS. It is the dark age of the USA, and finally somebody get the guts to do this in a vignette with modelfigures.
Never seen this before and it is great what you have done.
A great and historically correct vignette.
Congratulations
Marc
 
What a piece of art !!
I think that it should be taken around to as many schools as possible and be made the centerpiece of discussion- at all levels K-12 and college. Much can be learned of all aspects of the time period represented as well as later into the 60's in certain regions of our country.

I agree with what Bill (redrage) says;
"Curiously enough I believe that this work presents historical fact without editorial bias because it could be argued that it is being presented from one of many different points of view. (blacks, whites, racists, activists, indifferent politicians, etc.) I can envision many polemic reactions to this work. I guess that’s where the emotions start to take over for me but then again perhaps that’s whole point…"
Can you imagine the depth of discussion that many who have not gone through those times could participate in?

Very worthy of BOS and many other awards.

GaryQ
 

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