Jack Balas, 2017; 'TIS OF THEE (#1421); watercolor, ink & acrylic on paper, 22" X 30"
TEXT:
'TIS OF THEE (As philosophical thoughts attend...)
Have we really "crossed the line"?
We have looked at this PAINTING for weeks now, asking ourselves
have we really "crossed the line" (as SOME say) with
this IMAGE? and IF so, what does it (can it) take to DEFUSE or
neutralize something many say is PROVOCATIVE or EXPLICIT or OUTRIGHT
PORNOGRAPHIC? Does the ink-drawn BRICK WALL around this fellow
do the job? Or the RENDITION of FOLIAGE and DAPPLED SUNLIGHT?
(a reference to plein-air painting?) What about the fact that
this is a PAINTING executed with SKILL and not some cheap QUICK
PHOTOGRAPH? When you consider the image involved, is this act
not a COMMON OCCURENCE among many, albeit one that is little-discussed,
let alone shown and/ or DEPICTED out of embarrassment (and which
is only induced by PRUDERY, religious or otherwise?)
FURTHERMORE, WHEN YOU CONSIDER that not only does the young man
give the artist PERMISSION to LOOK, and then the artist gives
YOU PERMISSION to look (AND IN fact, by painting the image, ASKS
you to look), DO YOU NOT, in fact, look and KEEP LOOKING to the
point that you CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF IT? HOW, THEN, DO YOU
READ the title? CAN THIS IN FACT BE A MANIFESTO? YOU May Begin
your Answer HERE: