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ARTIST PROMOTES 'PATRIOT' WORK IN N.Y. (Nice painting of Bush!)
Yahooooo via AP ^
| 9/4/04
Posted on 09/04/2004 3:37:14 PM PDT by areafiftyone
Artist Scott LoBaido, a self-styled 'creative patriot,' stands in front of his painting called 'Have Faith,' a portrayal of President Bush (news - web sites) on horseback, triumphantly clutching the severed head of Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), by the turban, at the Tribute Gallery Monday, Aug. 30, 2004, in New York. 'I wanted to let the Republicans know there are some creative people in this city who are on their side,' the 39-year-old artist said last week as his exhibit opened just before the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Scout Tufankjian)
NEW YORK - The scene: A downtown art studio. Patrons swill martinis, sample hors d'oeuvres and consider the displays in chin-stroking contemplation. A normal gallery opening — what's unusual is the art.
On one wall, a buff, shirtless President Bush (news - web sites) is a prizefighter, standing over his fallen opponent in the ring: filmmaker Michael Moore. Another work, titled "Larger Than Life," is an 8-foot-tall rendering of Ronald Reagan (news - web sites). And the piece de resistance: Bush on horseback, triumphantly clutching the severed head of Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), by the turban, in his right hand. It is called "Have Faith."
It's all the work of Scott LoBaido, a self-styled "creative patriot" who believes passionately that the fate of the country depends on this election — and that Bush is the only choice.
"I wanted to let the Republicans know there are some creative people in this city who are on their side," the 39-year-old artist said last week as his exhibit opened just before the Republican National Convention.
The work isn't subtle. One of LoBaido's pieces shows a NASCAR (news - web sites)-style race car labeled "Bush/Cheney" barreling toward a bewildered-looking donkey, and another shows a match close to a U.S. flag with the caption "Don't Even Think About It."
In a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than five to one — and an art community where the difference is even more stark — LoBaido says he shopped his work around for months with no takers.
"One gallery curator was cursing and screaming and got into this whole anti-Bush thing," he said. "I said, you're a curator of a gallery. You're supposed to provoke emotion. This is the whole point!"
His work found a home at Tribute, a gallery that only opened in May in lower Manhattan, south of the World Trade Center site.
The gallery defines itself as apolitical. Still, other galleries' refusal to show the work only made it more attractive to Tribute, said Emmora Irwin, operations director.
"Because it's not necessarily our viewpoint, it's even more important to show it," she said. "I just don't like the idea of someone not being able to find a space just because of their political views."
The gallery did insist on keeping at least one of LoBaido's pieces out of the exhibit — a depiction of Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) with two mouths.
It is not the first time LoBaido, a fourth-generation New Yorker, has found the spotlight. In 1999, when the Brooklyn Museum of Art displayed a portrait of the Virgin Mary plastered in dung, LoBaido responded by flinging horse manure at the museum itself. He was arrested.
LoBaido's exhibit, called "Hail to the Chief," runs through Sept. 20. He hopes delegates will venture south to see it.
At the opening reception last week, a pair of women considered the Bush-bin Laden painting. One sighed. "Well," she said, "it's certainly thought-provoking. It's a conversation piece, at least."
Nearby, Ron Rice, a banker who works in lower Manhattan not far from the gallery, said he found LoBaido's work refreshing.
"It's just great to see this in downtown Manhattan," he said. "There's just so much negative press against our president. This gives a different view."
_
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To: areafiftyone
Ewwww...that's a
terrible painting of Bush. I mean, I'm glad this guy's politics are in the right place, but he's awful.
Somewhere tonight, a piece of black velvet is crying out for its Elvis.
2
posted on
09/04/2004 3:40:24 PM PDT
by
prion
(Yes, as a matter of fact, I AM the spelling police)
To: prion
Actually he is the one who did the painting of Bush holding Bin Laden's head.
3
posted on
09/04/2004 3:41:24 PM PDT
by
areafiftyone
(Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
To: areafiftyone
To: areafiftyone
"a portrayal of President Bush (news - web sites) on horseback, triumphantly clutching the severed head of Osama bin Laden"
It shouldnt be long before the weenies weigh in on this.
5
posted on
09/04/2004 3:41:52 PM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(The economy won't matter if you're dead.)
To: areafiftyone
I would love to be able to see all of his work.
6
posted on
09/04/2004 3:43:20 PM PDT
by
bannie
(Liberal Media: The Most Dangerous Enemies to America and Freedom)
To: prion
LOL! Yeah, that's not exactly my cup of tea either. In fact, I would have to say it's an insulting portrait of the President.
7
posted on
09/04/2004 3:44:23 PM PDT
by
Arkie2
To: prion
I'd buy it. Put it on EBAY!
To: areafiftyone
Actually he is the one who did the painting of Bush holding Bin Laden's head. Who, Elvis?
9
posted on
09/04/2004 3:46:31 PM PDT
by
prion
(Yes, as a matter of fact, I AM the spelling police)
To: All
Yikes! Where is this guy's sensitivity? This will hurt the terrorists feelings. How dare he. Senator Feinstein where are you? Rhetorical of course.
10
posted on
09/04/2004 3:47:35 PM PDT
by
Bringbackthedraft
(Kerry for President? Who said the Dem's had no sense of humor?)
To: All
On one wall, a buff, shirtless President Bush (news - web sites) is a prizefighter, standing over his fallen opponent in the ring: filmmaker Michael Moore Oh I HAVE to find this painting!
11
posted on
09/04/2004 3:49:16 PM PDT
by
areafiftyone
(Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
To: areafiftyone
Well, give the guy credit for diversity.
He's got a little bit of Vlad the Impaler, Napoleon, Simon Bolivar and John Wayne in the painting.
However, I have a hunch this masterpiece won't make it to any D.C. museums any time soon.
Leni
12
posted on
09/04/2004 3:49:31 PM PDT
by
MinuteGal
(Florida Freepers....We Have a Great State Forum. Click the Flag on your Profile Page to Get to It)
To: areafiftyone
The gallery did insist on keeping at least one of LoBaido's pieces out of the exhibit — a depiction of Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) with two mouths. LOL!
13
posted on
09/04/2004 3:50:34 PM PDT
by
Arizona
(life is easier if you always tell the truth)
To: All
It is not the first time LoBaido, a fourth-generation New Yorker, has found the spotlight. In 1999, when the Brooklyn Museum of Art displayed a portrait of the Virgin Mary plastered in dung, LoBaido responded by flinging horse manure at the museum itself. He was arrested. I give this guy kudos for having guts!
14
posted on
09/04/2004 3:51:10 PM PDT
by
areafiftyone
(Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
To: areafiftyone
I've been looking for his work. I'd love to order a full size print of that painting if it is ever offered
Another story about him at: http://www.nypress.com/16/7/nyc/nyc1.cfm
15
posted on
09/04/2004 3:51:21 PM PDT
by
NDJeep
To: cripplecreek
It shouldnt be long before the weenies weigh in on this. The weenies will somehow link the artist to Bush's campaign. ;-)
To: areafiftyone
Is it painted on Black Velvet?
17
posted on
09/04/2004 3:52:50 PM PDT
by
tsomer
To: prion
Hey, at least it doesn't have elephant dung on it.
To: areafiftyone
Cheesy.... cheesy... like that artificial kind that comes out of a squirter at AM-PM
19
posted on
09/04/2004 3:53:04 PM PDT
by
Porterville
(How can the median price of a home in CA be 450,000 dollars? How? Where is the money?)
To: areafiftyone
20
posted on
09/04/2004 3:53:39 PM PDT
by
Conservative Me
(Former Republican ~ Forever Conservative)
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