Friends, I have a draft of a New Year post that I never published because, as I was working on it the Georgia elections were taking place, quickly followed by the appalling events of January the 6th. My reflections on 2020 were significantly overshadowed and no longer feel relevant.
For the most part, I try to focus on art and design with my business, keeping my political beliefs out of it, except where it is inherent in the artwork itself. I have done this because my work is a catharsis for me; a place to find serenity and peace and beauty, so I have tried to maintain that in the way I present myself and my art. I think anyone following me has a sneaky suspicion that I strive to be an ally to those who are disenfranchised and that I support racial equity and LGBTQ rights, but I also try to make sure everyone feels welcome to my party. I believe in building bridges, compassionate listening and constructive debate.
The truth is, I am a very political person. I just don’t broadcast it. While working in my studio, I am almost always listening to podcasts on a variety of subjects including science, social science, history, economics, social justice and independent journalism. I try to seek out unbiased sources and avoid anyone who gives me information while telling me how I should feel about it, and I like being given both sides of every perspective. In the spring, I discovered some podcasts exploring the world of conspiracy theorists and was alarmed to learn about Qanon. I have been following this movement as it has grown and developed offshoots and infiltrated our society. What was a fringe group of gullible participants became almost mainstream, with Qanon believers elected to political offices, and our president changing out his administration to surround himself with avid conspiracists. I listened to people formulating bizarre stories about the pandemic being a hoax, antifa being an organized group funded and controlled by the “Deep State”, and our very secure election system being rigged. All of this served to undermine peoples’ trust in the government, in each other, and even in reality.
I’ve been keeping this movement in my radar, watching it grow in my rural area, and even discovering that some people I care about have succumbed. Anyone paying attention knew that a violent insurrection was planned for January 6th; it was posted clearly in right wing forums, then shared all over social media by people surreptitiously following those conversations. I told myself not to worry. Undoubtedly, the FBI and our national security apparatus was infiltrating these forums, tracking the plan, and would shut down any attempt to commit violent acts.
So, on the 6th, I was not at all surprised by the protests, or that they became a riot, or that they marched to the White House. I was not surprised that Trump gave them clear directives, as he had been doing so via Twitter for some time. I follow some journalists who planned to be on the ground that day, so I watched in almost real time as the rioters were met by a handful of Capitol police who opened the gates to the grounds. I felt sickened when they swarmed the White House, forced their way in (or were let in, by some police) and desecrated the sanctity of our nation’s capital while our Congress hid in fear for their lives.
I am devastated and I am angry. In light of current events, I feel strangely disconnected trying to continue business as usual. My coping mechanism is to make things, to keep working, to keep adding beauty to my surroundings. I still have commitments and deadlines that I’m trying to stay focused on. But the time for building bridges or being non-political has passed. Maybe it was a mistake all along. This post is my clear statement that I find the actions of those on the far right abhorrent, and anyone who will not speak up against it is complicit. Calls for “unity” from the GOP and supporters are pathetic and extremely hypocritical, as the actions of this administration has torn our country apart, spit on our Constitution, and is making every attempt to destroy Democracy.
If this changes the way you feel about me and my work, please move on. I am not interested in exchanging business income for moral ambiguity.
If you identify with me, well, we are in this together. I sure hope we move through this without more death and destruction before we begin to heal as a nation. Things may be challenging for some time yet, but I still believe America will come through stronger and better. Thank you for supporting me and I look forward to staying connected as we get through this insanity!
