Art by the People vs Art for the State

Before I went to DC for the 9/12 March, I was all fired up by the NEA. That would be the Endowment for the Arts, rather than the equally useless National Education Association. The reason, as I pointed out in previous articles, is the move by the NEA to sponsor pro-Obama agenda items.
I've always opposed entitlement programs. However, State Sponsored Art is an affront to my talents as an artist and my principles as an individual. I decided to launch an artistic revolution against the NEA and its participating hacks, sell-outs and parasites. If the government wants to promote propaganda that pushes their agenda, pay for it with tax money and keep it quiet so they can develop "legal language" to 'protect themselves', I'm going to give 'em hell. I don't need to go into the historic significance of such a move, or incite you to anger on this issue. If you're not angry, you're not paying attention, and there's nothing I can do for you.
When I found out I was going on the March, I spent the week and a half I had to prepare making posters for the event. At some future date, you will be able to purchase them as t-shirts and other merchandise. In the mean time, here are some photos from the lawn of the Capitol Building.

This Article is cross-posted at Liberatchik.

A Letter to Sean Hannity

This is one of the main reasons I have been so busy lately. It will explain the lack of posts here. I am trying to generate interest in the Conservative community for my work. It requires a tremendous amount of time, but I have to get paid for it some day. The letter varies for each person I send it to, but the message is the same. If Conservatives want a voice, they have to be a part of the culture. If they want to combat the Liberal bias in the arts, they have to stop complaining and produce art. If they want that art to succeed, they have to buy it. In a nutshell: "put up or shut up".

Dear Mr. Hannity,
I attended your pre-concert rally this afternoon in Atlanta. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak, as I was unable to get tickets for the Freedom Concert. I was the short woman in the front row with the anti-Che Guevara shirt on, so I had a good view of all of the speakers. I appreciate all of your hard work to fight the corruption and manipulation of the American people by their own government. You help give a public voice to those of us who are being ignored by our Representatives in Washington. Please give me a minute to explain to you who I am, and what I am doing to fight for my country.
I am neither a soldier, nor a politician. I am a housewife and an artist. Seven years ago I realized that I must combine my passion for politics and Liberty with my talents as an artist. I was not inspired to paint pretty pictures or create art that would merely sell. I was driven to create work that makes people think, and in turn, inspires them to take action. About a year later, my husband and I planned to have our son and prepare for me to stay home and care for him while building a body of work that represents my views. We have given up much to keep me home with our son, rather than send him to daycare. We have given up even more so that I can pursue my art, and my vision for work that will spread the message of Liberty, individualism and limited government. I am not asking for sympathy or charity, merely understanding. I stand by the choices I have made and regret nothing.
Now, he is in school, and I devote a great deal of my time to producing art and trying to find a venue for it. You may wonder how I expect to make a difference with my work, or why I would choose subjects that are so unpopular with my peers in the art community. The answer is: Because it is the right thing to do. There is very little work coming out of Hollywood, the music industry, or the fine arts that is patriotic, much less Conservative. I think this is one of the major reasons why we Conservatives are struggling so hard to beat back the Liberal agenda. All of the arts have such a pervasive influence on our culture. Our children grow up with beliefs they don't know they have, and no reason beyond the drivel they see on TV or hear on the radio. I believe it is vital to our culture and our future to change this. We must present work that upholds and explains the virtues of Liberty. We need to explain why the individual is better than the State; independence and self-reliance are better than security; limited government provides greater opportunity than the bureaucracy in Washington. I am doing these things with my art. And, slowly, I am finding more people who are brave enough to do the same. It is my intention to build a network of Conservative artists who are known for their principles as well as their work. I want Conservatives, who have turned their back on art, and assume that we are all raging Liberals to know they have a choice and a voice. They can buy art that is good, meaningful, and supports their principles. We can change the culture of America, and we must, but we need help.
We need Conservatives to support us. I am not asking for a favor or money unearned. My work speaks for itself, and I intend to build a market for it. However, I need help. I have no influence, no disposable income, and no support for the message I am trying to spread. I need money, yes, but I also need publicity. I need people to know I am here; working long hours, not just creating the art, but trying to promote it. I am building a Conservative art movement from the ground up, while trying to manage my home and be a good mother and wife. My husband is a talented writer, and it is my goal to build a business from my art, so he can stay home and write.
Again, thank you for all of your hard work. I hope you had a wonderful evening at your concert. If you have a moment, please look at my art. I hope that you will be able to see the time, passion and research I have devoted to my work and my goals. I hope you will share my conviction that we must repair the culture of America if we are to convince people of the greatness of this nation. And, I hope you will take a minute to spread the word. In return, if there is any way I can help you or the Freedom Coalition with my work, I would be happy to do so. Perhaps we could organize a fund-raising auction for your scholarship fund. I would gladly donate a percentage of the sales of my work to your fund for the children of fallen soldiers. Our brave soldiers are the ones who sacrifice the most for our freedoms, and it is a shame that they are currently serving a government that has no concept of or respect for freedom.
Thank you for your time. And I wish you the best. Hopefully, we can work together to build a culture of Liberty-minded individuals and restore America to the Constitutional Republic she is meant to be.
Frances
http://www.machinepolitick.com/MachinePolitick Art That's Not Liberal

Monumental Liberty Series

The Hand of Order...

Liberty...

I am currently in the process of doing research and putting a series of articles together on a sculptor I met recently. In the meantime, I would like to introduce Matthew Welter, of Timeless Sculptures to you. In these times of increased government and decreased Liberty, it is uplifting to see monumental works in support of our mission here at Liberatchik. Matthew is new to our movement, but not to sculpture or the ideas of individual Liberty and patriotism. Please take some time to peruse his site and learn more about him.

Some New Drawings

I am working on a series of drawings for a show with my friend Alvaro. Hopefully we will be on display somewhere in Atlanta by the end of the year.
These drawings are from my Liberty Series and the photos were taken by Alvaro. We try to get together a few times a month to talk politics and art and inspire/push one another to get more art out into the world.
Alvaro has work going on display at MOCA GA soon. More details to come.

An Unexpected Visit and the Encouragement it Brought

This article may not be interesting to those of you who enjoy my political posts, but it's nice to have something positive to write about. I had an unexpected visit yesterday, and I would like to take a minute to share the story.
Occaisionally, people contact me via email to let me know they like my artwork. At this point in my career, that is a huge encouragement. Better still, are the people who check in on me regularly to ask how I am doing and let me know they keep up with the blogs. In an age of computer driven anonymity, it is nice to know people care enough to reach out and encourage one another. This is how I first met Laura, who is a dance instructor from Brooklyn. The main focus of her program is to pass on family histories and personal experiences through the medium of dance.
As it turns out, she was on a road trip with her sister's family this week, from New Hampshire to Texas. I received an email from Laura on Monday night asking if my work was available for viewing. She wanted to 'stop off' in Atlanta on her way home if I didn't mind. Seeing as how my work is just hanging around the house, I said come on by. To be honest, I didn't expect her to call me. However, yesterday afternoon, Laura called to say she was heading to Atlanta, and would like directions to my house.I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet Laura, and not just because she likes my work. She is an interesting and intelligent woman who faces many of the same obstacles I do. Imagine being a dance instructor in the Northeast, surrounded by Liberals, while being politically Conservative in your views.
Needless to say, our common experiences led to a lengthy conversation on how we can make a place for like-minded people in the arts.Luckily, Christopher and I have already laid the groundwork here at Liberatchik. Being at the forefront of a movement is a very demanding, and sometimes lonely, endeavor. I spend long hours on the computer, away from my family and my art. However, meeting Laura, and seeing her enthusiasm for my work and ideas is all the encouragement I need to persevere. Who knows how many other people are out there, with the same passions and vision, who are afraid to be openly political with their Liberal friends.
I hope that I will soon have the opportunity to introduce Laura to you as well, through Liberatchik. I feel that she will be a wonderful addition to our team.

This article is cross posted @ Liberatchik

The Making of an Art Movement.

Now that the Decarationist Movement and Liberatchik have launched, I thought people might like to know how we got started. Christopher of Modern Conservative contacted me via email late last year, and together, we have combined our creative talents and our passion for freedom to build this site. As we add new members, the face of the project may change, but the underlying philosophy and goals will remain constant - Liberty is superior to tyranny; the State is our enemy; Freedom of Speech includes all points of view; individuals, not government, are the creators of wealth and freedom...

To read more, visit Liberatchik.

Thanks to Daily Uprising

I'd like to pass on a short article at Daily Uprising. They were kind enough to put up a link for Liberatchik without being asked. It feels good to know people are out there supporting us.

Declarationist Art for Libertarians and Conservatives

New Posts @ ModCon

Here we go again. Obama, the great promise of Change, Hope, and an end to racial tension proves himself to be just another Socialist hack. We all know nothing he said about equality and diversity on the campaign trail was true, so I'll get to the point. His recent Supreme Court nominee is proof, yet again, that he has no intention of following the rule of law or adhering to the Constitution. I will provide a link to Sotomayor's quote, because I have no interest in addressing that in great detail at this point. I will go so far as to say that her comments were not, by definition, racist; but no less disturbing for that fact.
If you care about individual Liberty, you should fear her for reasons I will address in a future article. On to the point of this post. The art for this week's featured slot on our page is by Alvaro Alvillar. It is an installation that addresses the issue of racism in America. In particular, it addresses the fact that it is universally acceptable to be racist against whites while speaking of diversity and ending racism. It speaks also to the victim mentality and the power wielded in it's defense that is the driving force behind the acceptance of blaming whites and holding them to a different standard than 'minorities'. Finally, it addresses the political power gained by the use of these tactics as well as the guilt many whites feel as a result.

As promised, I am back to explain the real issue behind Obama's nomination of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Everyone under the sun is going on about her remarks being racist. Because they were not, in fact racist, the entire argument has been rendered invalid. Her comments were, however, inappropriate as well as revealing of a larger and more important issue. She is clearly more interested in ruling based on her feelings and opinions rather than the rule of law and that should be the reason to oppose her nomination.
I don't think her feelings or experiences make her any more qualified for the position than her race. These are not even subjects we should be discussing when nominating a judge to the Supreme Court. We should be examining her record as a judge and the fairness of her rulings as defined by law. She should neither be influenced by international opinion, nor foreign law. The Supreme Court is a branch of the United States government, not a tool for promoting globalism.

For those of you who have not heard, Liberatchik has launched with the help of ModernConservative.com. Please take a minute to check it out and learn more about the Declarationist Art Movement now under way. We have recently been joined by some very talented artists. Weekly updates are made to feature Conservative art, music and film. Links are also provided to our signatory artists. New articles a posted 3 or more times a week, which is why I have become scarce around here. Finally, we are working on a FaceBook page. I hope you like what we're doing, and invite you to join us. Any level of help or support is greatly appreciated.

Integrity

"Integrity can neither be lost nor concealed nor faked nor quenched nor artificially come by nor outlived, nor, I believe in the long run, denied." Eudora Welty

A good friend of mine sent me this quote one day as a compliment. I'm not sure if I always live up to it, but I do the best I can. This is a difficult path I've chosen, although I wouldn't have it any other way. I work very hard, and it helps to know that someone has so much faith in my efforts and abilities.I am not just an artist, although that can be difficult enough. I am a political artist, which sometimes makes people uncomfortable or angry. I am also a Conservative, which is a very unpopular viewpoint in the art community. That is why I have teamed up with Modern Conservative to start the Declarationist Art Movement and Liberatchik. We want to create a place where artists, like myself, from all genres can come together for support and encouragement. We are creating a place where we can be recognized for our talents, but more importantly, supported in our ideals. All of this is being done with the goal of creating a larger community, awareness by the average American, and eventually patronage by those who are willing and able to help us in our endeavors. I look forward to the day when artists can express their thoughts through their talents - openly, and uncensored.
Meanwhile, I am a mom and wife. I struggle to balance my passion for my art and politics with my love for my family. My days can be long sometimes, and I often want to take a break. Sometimes, I don't feel like staying up late to write. I just want to paint, or sleep, or play with my son. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought I'd be blogging regularly. It's time consuming, requires me to be on the computer instead of painting, and I didn't consider myself to be a writer. Then Christopher approached me with this project, and within 6 months, we've launched it. Currently, I'm working on a guidebook and planning to set aside time to start approaching other artists.This project isn't just about me or Christopher. Yes, I want to make a living from my work. I can't continue to work on this project or stay home to paint without money. However, I know from experience how hard it is to get started as an artist. I hope I can help and inspire other artists out there to get involved and be active politically as well as artistically. I genuinely believe that the future of our country is being shaped by media, culture and the arts. Marketing is everywhere and influences everything we do on a subconscious level. If we are to combat the Liberal stranglehold on entertainment and our culture, we have to fight back on a creative level.
I know from speaking to people that they want to be entertained by something meaningful. They want art that they like because they agree with it, not because it's the latest trend. They want to see movies that don't stereotype them as evil, listen to music that doesn't berate them, and see to a comedian who isn't insulting and demeaning them. We can give it to them. It takes the simple qualities of strength and integrity to take the first step in that direction. Stand tall, make a statement, back it up with facts, and have the strength to stand firm. One step at a time; we can do this.
If you are an artist, who shares our views, get in touch with me. You can participate openly, or not. Just knowing you are there is encouraging. If you know someone in the arts who qualifies, send them the link. We'd love to see their work and get in touch with them. If you know people who collect art, and share our views, let them know we are here. Word of mouth is one of our biggest tools. Once we have the support, we can start organizing shows and raising awareness on a grand scale. In the meantime, I am working with my friend Alvaro to put on a show. I'll keep you updated as we get closer to achieving that goal. Thanks to all of you who are showing your support for us before we are 'cool'. We greatly appreciate it.

This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

Liberatchik has launched!

For those of you who know me, you have probably noticed I've been visiting your blogs and websites less than I used to. The reason is, I've been working on a huge project that is now up and running.
In a joint effort with Modern Conservative, I have been working on a Conservative art project. It is our goal to make the Conservative view point as successful and main stream as the Liberal. In addition, we intend to launch an aggressive campaign to combat the Liberal monopoly on political propaganda and gallery exposure. I hope to see a day when all artists can find representation based on their merit, rather than their views. I want to end the black listing and the fear of reprisal that artists like myself face from the art community at large.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the artistic revolution, please contact me at frances@machinepolitick.com. If you are not willing to risk exposure, but would like to encourage our efforts, join as a friend. If you Prefer to remain anonymous, there are ways you can help as well. We are not here to brainwash or intimidate you. We are here to set you free. Participate at your comfort level, and good luck to you in all that you do.
For more information, please visit Liberatchik, and become informed.

Liberals Say Pffft! I say Bring it on!

Just a quick note on my latest at ModCon.
I've been slacking a little on the blogs lately. Please forgive me for having a million projects going at once. There are some links to some awesome artists in the article.
Those of you interested, should also look into the National Tea Parties. There are a couple coming up.

Formula For Hate

My friend Alvaro has a new post at Big Hollywood. He is a very talented, and often misunderstood artist. Please show him support by reading the article, and commenting on his work. He works very hard.

Wrapping up the Week at ModCon

Samples of MachinePolitick Art
Due to time constraints and a multitude of projects, I decided to spare my audience a long winded opinion piece this week. I am simply posting samples of my work for your commentary.
Hopefully, I will be finishing up some paintings soon and posting new images.

Alvaro Alvillar, artist and friend

I'm a little tardy posting this link. The last week has been a little crazy. Please check it out and go to my friend's video.
Alvaro is a very talented artist facing the same struggle I am. His work is amazing, and his point of view is interesting. He's not as aggressive as I am, but his work is political. He is nice enough to give the viewer their say when interpreting his work. I don't really give you that choice.
So, here's the link: A Challenge to the Art Community
Enjoy!

My Experiences with Pretentious Liberals

This is my new article at Modern Conservative. The basic idea is that pretentious Liberals feel superior to anyone remotely conservative in the art community. I decided to put down some of my experiences and reactions over the years to give a little better perspective on my art and personal philosophy.
http://www.modernconservative.com/metablog_single.php?p=2881

My New Friends

I have been invited by Modern Conservative to start a movement promoting Conservative artists.
Hopefully the project will lead to new and exciting things for both of us. In the mean time, here is my introductory post at Modern Conservative.
I plan to write articles for them regularly, commenting on what it is like to be an artist who is neither Liberal, nor afraid to say so. I'll be posting about my art and politics in general, as well as my experiences in the worlds of art and politics. Hopefully, you will look forward to seeing links to those articles here.
The goal is to network with and help promote other artists and raise awareness for our work. I hope you will wish us luck, and pass us on to your friends. This is a very flattering and exciting opportunity for me.I look forward to helping them build a base of Conservative artists as well as reach out to the Conservative community to make them aware that they can find art from their perspective.