While Mr. Anthony is no Woody Guthrie, he nails it with this working class anthem. As he recently said in an interview;
“I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own, and I see the left trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation. That sh*t’s gotta stop,” he continued.
The song is about all of us working stiffs and the politicians who are destroying us. Don’t read to much into it.
The song below is probably one of the most controversial songs I have ever heard, and trust me, when it was released, sh!t hit the fan, but I can’t imagine if it was released today . . .
Not sure if many people follow tiki artist, SHAG, but you can see his images here. SHAG was actually inspired by mid-century commercial artists that painted in a similar style. I love the style and have a bunch of SHAG prints. But the mural needs more tikis and martini glasses.
Not sure if Portz was inspired by SHAG, but now days nothing is original, and I certainly steal ideas from several artists, most notably, Andy Warhol.
During the video the mayor made the comment that they are ‘doing it the right way’. According to who? You? He also said that the image was ‘Non-Controversial’ though I do see a nod to this guy going on. As the mayor also said ‘Art is subjective’ and exactly the reason that we shouldn’t allow ONE person or special group of people to be selecting public art behind closed doors.
During the public input period at the Active Transportation Board I commented on the darkness of city hall and how I have never seen it this bad in 20 years. I told the board, until you have a transparent government you accomplish very little.
I feel bad for all the good people involved with this project, from the artist, to the donor to the city staff who have to tow the line of secretive government because that is what your master demands, but at the end of the day you can either feed at that trough or you can do the right thing and say ‘NO. This is wrong.’
The mural will ultimately be an improvement of what we have now, but golly, that’s a lot of lipstick!
UPDATE: I am getting word that they will be working with Walter Portz over the next year to develop a mural, or something like that. Walter just recently finished the mural at Levitt. I guess the VAC expressed they were NOT happy about the process or the secrecy, can’t wait to see how the administration will spin this. I guess they are also keeping the donor’s name a secret as of right now, though we have some pretty good guesses who it is.
I am hearing a rumor that Planning Staff decided to drop a turd on the Visual Arts Commission at their meeting this morning, I would assume it is under new business, public art update.
I was NOT in attendance but I am hearing there was a work around for the Bunker Ramp mural and they are going to announce tomorrow (10:30 AM at the city’s Wednesday presser) that they are bringing it back (different design). I guess they did the planning and selection for this behind closed doors (I know, SHOCKER!) with ZERO input from the VAC and public and using a familiar donor.
It seems someone’s ego must have gotten the best of them.
As of right now, I can’t find much about it except on the agenda which spells nothing out so I guess we will have to see the big announcement, which I am sure will be announced HERE in advance.
Any dolt with just a little bit of experience in public art could tell you this is NOT how you approve public art.
I have an unique exhibit coming on August 4, First Friday at Van Art Studios, 5-9 PM (across the street from Wells Fargo DTSF). I will be exhibiting graffiti photos I have taken over the past 3 years and some paintings and smaller collage pieces.
EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE, NO REASONABLE OFFER WILL BE REFUSED!
l3wis 
