Global warming and its inevitable affect on humanity, our civilization and the Earth itself is the central subject of PORTALS. The future well-being of everyone us is at stake and everyone has to become aware that right now our warning cries are continually being shouted down by the well-funded voices of “climate deniers” whose shameless greed knows no bounds.
During a recent exhibition of the PORTALS painting I was heartened by the visceral response of viewers as they begin to see the painting for what it is: A wake-up call for all of us: get involved or
suffer the inevitable consequences of fundamental and unprecedented climate-caused upheaval.
I have always been aware of what I call “journalistic art” — a socially oriented art that for centuries had been the sole province of painters and print-makers (like Peter Breugel, Francesco Goya and Kathe Kollwitz to name only a few). The advent of photography allowed many more visual artists to add their talents to the task of observing and commenting on society; “photo journalism” is renowned for its contributions to the reformation of corrupt and inhuman activities. But, now, contemporary, socially conscience artists are adding their particular insights to that cause.
I just hope we are not too late.
Don Bolognese