Circus Liquor, Plein Air by Alex Schaefer on Zatista.com
If you haven’t already heard, Zatista artist Alex Schaefer, painting teacher at world renowned Art Center College of Design, had a little run-in with the law again last month. Stirred by reading on the Internet that September 17 was to be a Day of Rage on Wall Street, Alex wanted to go out and make a painting.
Breakfast at Tommy's Burgers by Alex Schaefer on Zatista.com
In true artist fashion, and true to his emphasis on working from the live model, Alex camped out with easel and canvas across the street from the Los Angeles branch of The Federal Reserve to create a painterly image with a message (read Federal Reserve Bank in flames).
art by Alex Schaefer
Did I mention this is not Alex’s first painting of a bank in flames? He’s been known to paint images of symbolism on fire. Given this knowledge, guess who showed up while Alex was painting? Yes, Homeland Security. It’s happened before.
Bourbon Street, Plein Air by Alex Schaefer on Zatista.com
Indeed sacrifices are made in the name of art, but at least artist’s life is not boring. For more info about Alex’s work and links to other media including The Alex Schaefer Hour and an interview on Dan Rather Reports, click here. For a front row seat to Alex’s plein air painting of the LA Federal Reserve Branch, and his visit by the cops, see his video below:
What’s your opinion? Have any harrowing experiences of your own tell? Dare to share here on WallSpin.
I find Alex Schaefer’s paintings beautiful and interesting, and that he sometimes uses the practice of plein air painting to make a political statement is also interesting. He finds it ironic that an old-fashioned medium like plein air oil painting would attract the scrutiny of Homeland Security, but I don’t think it’s ironic or even surprising, really, because images are always scrutinized when they appear in public. I think that he may be confusing the attention of security agents looking for potential danger, with harrassment and possible censorship of artistic free speech. I understand, though, the origin of his sense of irony: his medium and usual subject matter are treated as “safe” in an art world context, (where there is a traditional glorification of “danger” by worshipers in the cult of the Avante Garde). He probably isn’t thinking about how, with this artwork, he has crossed into the genre of political commentary…. and by doing it in public, the genre of political theater. However, although I’m not surprised by the attention he has received, it occurs to me, that in terms of political art and free speech, one investigation by Homeland Security should be enough to satisfy their concerns. Repeated questioning might actually be political harassment, or perhaps, it’s just a matter of agents without enough other stuff to investigate. Thanks for the report. Judy LaBrasca