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Johnson's Will
1971
84 x 108 in. (213.36 x 274.32 cm)
Ariel (1926 - )
Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement, November 20, 2005 - March 5, 2006
New Wing, First Floor, Gibson Family Gallery and Plaza Gallery, San José Museum of Art. Circulated to: Katzen Art Center at American University, Washington, DC, April 9-July 29, 2006
Label copy created for Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement (2005-2006)
A long-time political activist, Ariel criticizes the actions of U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson during the Vietnam War in her painting . Under the Johnson administration, the number of American troops in Vietnam increased ten-fold in 1964 alone. Johnson was responsible for Operation Rolling Thunder, a policy of saturation bombing that dropped seven million tons of explosives (about twice the amount used in Europe and Asia during World War II), as well as Operation Ranch Hand, which sprayed approximately four million gallons of herbicide and defoliant over the countryside.
To convey this destruction, Ariel presents a writhing beast secreting deadly streams of blood, death, and destruction. The imagery refers to a 1968 poem entitled by Robert Duncan. According to the artist, the painting reflects “the agony of the event, the hatred, the corruption that informs the preparation, the enactment, the whole turning of the nation toward destruction and death.”
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Johnson's Will
Painting
197184 x 108 in. (213.36 x 274.32 cm)
Ariel (1926 - )
Object Type: Painting
Medium and Support: Oil on board
Credit Line: Gift of Carol and Gary Torre
Accession Number: 2005.16
Exhibition
Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement, November 20, 2005 - March 5, 2006
New Wing, First Floor, Gibson Family Gallery and Plaza Gallery, San José Museum of Art. Circulated to: Katzen Art Center at American University, Washington, DC, April 9-July 29, 2006
SJMA Label Text
Label copy created for Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement (2005-2006)
A long-time political activist, Ariel criticizes the actions of U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson during the Vietnam War in her painting . Under the Johnson administration, the number of American troops in Vietnam increased ten-fold in 1964 alone. Johnson was responsible for Operation Rolling Thunder, a policy of saturation bombing that dropped seven million tons of explosives (about twice the amount used in Europe and Asia during World War II), as well as Operation Ranch Hand, which sprayed approximately four million gallons of herbicide and defoliant over the countryside.
To convey this destruction, Ariel presents a writhing beast secreting deadly streams of blood, death, and destruction. The imagery refers to a 1968 poem entitled by Robert Duncan. According to the artist, the painting reflects “the agony of the event, the hatred, the corruption that informs the preparation, the enactment, the whole turning of the nation toward destruction and death.”
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Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions: - Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement , 11/20/2005 - 7/29/2006
Dimensions
- Image Dimensions: 84 x 108 in. (213.36 x 274.32 cm)
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Your current search criteria is: All Objects records and [Objects]Display Artist is "Ariel".