(20 x 20 Collage on canvas.)
I finished this collage last night as America voted to elect a bigoted, xenophobe, racist, lying, scamming, misogynist, farce-of-a-person. Today, it still isn't dry and I am still feeling horrified. Stunned.
I am heartbroken that my work has become suddenly more relevant than I ever really thought possible. I never thought we would actually move backwards. I make most of my art because I feel a deep need to comment on injustice and inequality. To point out hypocrisy. Say, hey, people, we aren't there yet. We need to work harder and pay attention. I didn't even comprehend that we are not only "not there" we are regressing rapidly.
Black lives do matter. Muslims are not terrorists. Gay people are not flawed and are not predators. Trans people are not dangerous. Mexicans are not rapists. People who have disabilities are, in fact, people. Women do not – and should not – have a "place" to be "kept in" by any man or group of men. People do not have the right to abuse others. Ever.
But all is not lost. I am trying to ease myself by focusing on the fact that, while it may be true, many, many white people in this country are okay with, it seems, every single "ism" there ever was, more than half of the people who voted last night did NOT vote for hate and fear. And this is where our collective humanity can be found and built upon. Right now, I am holding onto this idea with every bit of loving kindness and hope I can muster.