Social And Political Art

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 16:59:00 +0000

Accepting submissions again. This blog had been shut down for a number of years because of all the wierd stuff people were trying to post. I thought it was time to open it up again and see what artists are thinking now. Please read guideline and my artist statement to understand what you are dealing with. NO SNIVELING OR COMPLAINING IN A PEEVISH, SELF-PITYING WAY. IN OTHER WORDS, NO WHINING.

Kaz Ooka's political art "Shoes"

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Kaz Ooka

Shoes: This is painted out of scene of Aleppo Syria which was widely destroyed and still being destroyed by Basher al-Assad government and its rebels. A man (look like me riding high-teck horse) came to rescue the city by throwing shoes. The shoes are being thrown to propaganda bill board of Basher al-Assad, but it looks like myself. Gee!. Am I bad guy, or Basher al-Assad may not be that bad guy. Who knows.

Statement:
Beauty of "Political Painting" is that you can reach out someone on opposite side who may reject your opinion before you finish your statement if it is stated by vocal or by writing. In turn, visual way is very quick, may be 90% can be transferred instantly. Or by avoiding too much direct expression, you can invite someone on opposite side to join in speculating process by making some mysterious mood in paintings. Therefore I am trying some political paintings, just to observe if I can really exchange dialogue with someone on opposite side.

Bio:
Started painting in 1998 and trained at Palette and Chisel Academy in Chicago, IL for figure painting for 7 years. Then moved to New York and practicing painting alone since then

Web site: www.soymonk.com

Political Art of Jude Rouslin "Cease Fire Massacre"

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Title: Cease Fire Massacre

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Dimensions:
Cease fire massacre , as the US did not cease their fire . This was based on the first assault on Fallujah.

Bio:

"Artist Jude Rouslin, Originally from Rhode Island and currently living on the West Coast of Florida. Artists are historians. Recording and documenting events in the world in order to raise awareness and correct the injustices. "

Statement.As an Artist,I basically have no written statement*,except when forced to write one.Which I do begrudgingly. (The fact that I can't spell worth a damn,does not help matters either) In essence,I am statement-less.I find most Artist Statements to be rather entertaining on a no where boring day.They're often filled with descriptive terms that appear to have been, carefully selected from an Art Thesaurus.Which,basically depict(s), a hundred and one ways to say,The EGO has NOT landed.

Sentences, such as, (fill in the blanks)

The artist is attempting to convey,________.

The Artist's work,is continually evolving,in order to capture the essence and spirit of ____________.

The Artist, continually strives to show the viewer the inner mechanisms of ___________,

in order to allow the totality of ___________,

so as to ______________,

and show just how egotistically motivated the Artist is.:-)

* It is my belief that an Artist's work is sufficient enough in providing a statement and that one does not need to provide a textually based set of paragraphs that everyone knows is nothing more than an exercise in Creative Writing.

After all, ART IS the Artists Statement_ period.

Web Site

http://inside_out_graphics.tripod.com/

Epilepsy Related Art

https://picasaweb.google.com/108065927816395391860/EpilepsySeizureArt

Cancer Chemo Series on PICASA_Updated Weekly A work in progress

https://picasaweb.google.com/108065927816395391860/CancerChemoSeries?authkey=Gv1sRgCKrCsJ2CmNHTnwEhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/Occupylymphoma

Chemo Cancer Series on Face Book

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.428742003823610.100076.100000634423626&type=1&l=b15ce3d343

My YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/isog

My Merchandize on Zazzle

http://www.zazzle.com/insideoutgraphics

My Merchandize on Cafe Press

http://www.cafepress.com/rouslin

German political artist Thomas Prass

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:08:00 +0000

Political artist Thomas Prass's recent collage which format is 160 x120 cm, rather large. The title is: "Without Title"!

This time my painted collage is influenced partially by my German view of our history, but also actual situation. In this collage you see a strange real world. Strange, as nothing really seems to fit together. But the details are real, as all things you see are real: the weird pair of hands of German Chancellor Angela Merkel with the large black whole they form, five prominent German VIP's, the ruins of the German Reichstag at Berlin and fighting at Stalingrad, the new office building of the German Chancellor at Berlin, an US aircraft carrier plowing though an ocean of money, an American drone, an Italian setting, a cruise ship, the Simpsons as well as a scene from a French painting of Seurat. Things seem to be out of control.

Immigration reform political image art

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Tough immigration laws are made by those who are having a better time. For example, I noticed that if you look like Salma Hayek or have a 95 miles per hour baseball pitch you don’t have any problem getting into the country. If we could only get our unemployed to work for five dollars an hour and a glass of lemonade.

Roosevelt said that we are all descended from immigrants. I know that for me I’m lucky that there were no immigration laws when my family came to this country. One side high lined it across the Rio Grande and the other side hid on a coal hauler out of Wales. Basically they left for the same reason – no beans and no potatos.

Immigration political art assemblage by John Robertson 4 ¼" x 13" x 4"

Political Art Kaz Ooka Freedom Fighters

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Political Artist Kaz Ooka

Freedom Fighters: Middle soldier is an ordinary American soldier whom considered as officially "freedom fighter". Left side man in uniform has a name badge of "Bradley Manning" who leaked tons of info through computers on which he worked as an information solder. The right hand person pose a soldier who posed with Iraqi war prisoner naked. However, all soldiers are actually myself, Kaz Ooka. I am saying, those good and bad soldiers can be yourself or myself if different situation is given. It is so easy to blame others.

Statement:
Beauty of "Political Painting" is that you can reach out someone on opposite side who may reject your opinion before you finish your statement if it is stated by vocal or by writing. In turn, visual way is very quick, may be 90% can be transferred instantly. Or by avoiding too much direct expression, you can invite someone on opposite side to join in speculating process by making some mysterious mood in paintings. Therefore I am trying some political paintings, just to observe if I can really exchange dialogue with someone on opposite side.

Bio:
Started painting in 1998 and trained at Palette and Chisel Academy in Chicago, IL for figure painting for 7 years. Then moved to New York and practicing painting alone since then.

Web site: www.soymonk.com

Jude Rouslin Political Art

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:19:00 +0000

Title:Shelled in the Niger Delta

Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 22" x 28"

Bio:

Statement.As an Artist,I basically have no written statement*,except when forced to write one.Which I do begrudgingly. (The fact that I can't spell worth a damn,does not help matters either) In essence,I am statement-less.I find most Artist Statements to be rather entertaining on a no where boring day.They're often filled with descriptive terms that appear to have been, carefully selected from an Art Thesaurus.Which,basically depict(s), a hundred and one ways to say,The EGO has NOT landed.
Sentences, such as, (fill in the blanks)
The artist is attempting to convey,________.
The Artist's work,is continually evolving,in order to capture the essence and spirit of ____________.
The Artist, continually strives to show the viewer the inner mechanisms of ___________,
in order to allow the totality of ___________,
so as to ______________,
and show just how egotistically motivated the Artist is.:-)
* It is my belief that an Artist's work is sufficient enough in providing a statement and that one does not need to provide a textually based set of paragraphs that everyone knows is nothing more than an exercise in Creative Writing.
After all, ART IS the Artists Statement_ period.

Web Site
http://inside_out_graphics.tripod.com/
Epilepsy Related Art
https://picasaweb.google.com/108065927816395391860/EpilepsySeizureArt
Cancer Chemo Series on PICASA_Updated Weekly A work in progress

https://picasaweb.google.com/108065927816395391860/CancerChemoSeries?authkey=Gv1sRgCKrCsJ2CmNHTnwEhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/Occupylymphoma
Chemo Cancer Series on Face Book

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.428742003823610.100076.100000634423626&type=1&l=b15ce3d343

My YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/isog

My Merchandize on Zazzle
http://www.zazzle.com/insideoutgraphics
My Merchandize on Cafe Press
http://www.cafepress.com/rouslin

political art - Kaz Ooka "Monks at Great Wall"

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Artist Kaz Ooka

"Monks at Great Wall:" Tibetan monks has no place to go for peace. I sympathize them so much that I could be in line of them. But Chinese side government and educated people must have tons of reason to diminish the state. I may be unintentionally cooperating the Chinese government crime by buying so much things at Wal-Mart. Yes I could be guilty same as Chinese soldier. I am on duty on the top of the Great Wall as well.

Statement:
Beauty of "Political Painting" is that you can reach out someone on opposite side who may reject your opinion before you finish your statement if it is stated by vocal or by writing. In turn, visual way is very quick, may be 90%
can be transferred instantly. Or by avoiding too much direct expression, you can invite someone on opposite side to join in speculating process by making some mysterious mood in paintings. Therefore I am trying some political paintings, just to observe if I can really exchange dialogue with someone on opposite side.

Bio:
Started painting in 1998 and trained at Palette and Chisel Academy in Chicago, IL for figure painting for 7 years. Then moved to New York and practicing painting alone since then.

Web site: www.soymonk.com

Political Artist Hans Andre "The Office"

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:29:00 +0000

Hans Andre “The Office" painting in 2012 http://www.hansandre.com

Political Artist Jude Rouslin Solidarity Series

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:57:00 +0000

Title: Solidarity Series

Medium: Computer Generated Graphic, based on an oil an oil work I've done

Bio:

https://picasaweb.google.com/108065927816395391860/CancerChemoSeries?authkey=Gv1sRgCKrCsJ2CmNHTnwEhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/Occupylymphoma
Chemo Cancer Series on Face Book

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.428742003823610.100076.100000634423626&type=1&l=b15ce3d343

My YouTube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/isog

My Merchandize on Zazzle
http://www.zazzle.com/insideoutgraphics
My Merchandize on Cafe Press
http://www.cafepress.com/rouslin

Political Artist Kazu Livingstone

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:38:00 +0000

Title:
'Our Gifted Leader' by Kazu Livingstone

Comment:
This piece is about the Sino-Tibetan diplomatic peril

Bio:
Kazu Livingstone is a Malaysian artist, interested by the international clockworks of politics.

Links:
http://www.facebook.com/kazu.livingstone
website: http://be.net/kazulivingstone

Article of Faith political art John Robertson

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:41:00 +0000

Now this political image of a revolver expresses a few points of view. Those comments are always expressing the individual's biases. And what I find most interesting is that the people who have a strong point of view about this social commentary seem not to have the vision to see or appreciate the other ideas expressed in the painting.

The political art painting is 4 1/2 feet by 6 feet, acrylic on unstretched canvas.

gun control art political image

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:34:00 +0000

Although I painted this paintings a few years ago it does seem to be timely to the political debate on controlling guns and ammo. This social commentary art is referencing e. e. cummings line "bang is the meaning of a gun" from one of his poems

Political Art by John Robertson is 50" x 70"

acrylic/latex inunstretched canvas.

"Gone by 2050." by artist Janet Glatz

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:42:00 +0000

This is the Island of Funafuti in the South Pacific. One of many such island communities, it's size has seriously diminished over the past 10 years due to global warming and rising sea waters. Residents can no longer grow crops because the saltwater that floods their little plots ruins the soil. There is no future in Funafuti for the little boy depicted here.

Bio:
As a lifelong resident of the State of Maine, Janet Glatz began her art career focusing on land and seascapes, lighthouses and wildlife of her home state. More recently, her work has broadened to include a series entitled: Man and Sea: Endless Struggle - Lasting Legacy. Within that series are the beginnings of a fresh artistic viewpoint concerning the environment. Glatz has been selling her work throughout the U.S. for twenty years and lives in Brunswick, Maine.

Link to Janet Glatz web site: http://janetglatzmaineart.com

Hans Andre political art

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Hans Andre “Happy New Year” painting in acrylic and oil, 2011 http://www.hansandre.com/

Harry Hay, Hero of Human Liberation Artist Ken Kusterer

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Harry Hay, Hero of Human Liberation

acrylic/painting knife on canvas board, 16x20.

This was my first "Hero of Human Liberation" painting.

Written on the frame: "Wearing his signature longshoreman's cap and pearls, at age 90, with his 40'year compañero, the inventor John Burnside. Hay left StanfordUniversity in 1930 to organize the Longshoreman's Union with his then lover Will Geer, later a successful actor (The Waltons) despite years lost to the blacklist. In 1950, he founded the Mattachine Society with a group that included his then partner Rudi Gernreich, later a well-know 60's mod fashion designer (hot pants, the monkini). In 1979, he and Burnside formed the Radical Faeries. He fought oppression his entire life, and never gave in to those who would "solve" the problem by assimilating the oppressed into the culture and institutions of their oppressors."

Ken Kusterer briefly studied art and graphic design at Yale while working as a printer for Yale University Press. He became active in movements for peace, racial equality, human rights, and organizing for those without money, homes, or papers. For 40 years he did this work in the U.S.and Latin America. He earned diplomas in agriculture, and degrees in social change and Latin American studies from Chalchihuapa (Mexico), Yale, Washington U, and Harvard.

In 2007 he returned to work as an artist. At his first show, he won a blue ribbon award for one of his

“Human Liberation” paintings, of Harry Hay and partner. His works now hang in federal, state, and nonprofit offices, and in private collections along the east coast. His work is available at the web

gallery www.Artworx19971.com, and also at www.kustererartworks.com.

Why Paint Like This?

My last show was called “Two Artists Who Can’t Not Paint.” For me, painting is a compulsion, not a career, not a hobby, and certainly not a pleasure.

All my life, in the many countries of the Americaswhere I have lived, I have never been able to escape the horrible awareness of the oppression and injustice that surrounds me. Every day, people are shunned, pushed down, beaten and even killed because they are darker than average, or female, or queer, or poor, or newly immigrant.

Working in the civil rights movement at age 19, I stopped studying art because it seemed like such a frivolous ego trip. There were too many terrible injustices that demanded my effort.

I organized, I researched, I wrote, I taught, I mobilized. The more I learned, the more casual social insult I became aware of, and the more things I saw that could not be allowed to stand. Finally, my heart refused the stress and my brain grew a little tumor in revolt. I couldn’t keep doing this.

I turned back to art, but art this time expanded to encompass my life’s work. I paint mostly to provoke, either painting plainly or seducing with a pretty surface about an unpretty reality. My constant danger is to fall into propaganda – to convince you of my way – instead of provoking you to see and to think. I also paint images meant to be icon-like tools for meditation and visualization – to help still the mind, clarify its intentions, and sharpen its effectiveness.

Ken Kusterer political artist

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Used to be Slavery was Oppression Enough
acrylic/painting knife on board, 11x14

America imprisons a higher percentage of its citizens than any other country, by far. African American men are imprisoned, mostly for drugs, at a rate that has poisoned the economic and social fabric of the black community. The rate of drug use among blacks is actually lower than among whites.

Ken Kusterer briefly studied art and graphic design at Yale while working as a printer for Yale University Press. He became active in movements for peace, racial equality, human rights, and organizing for those without money, homes, or papers. For 40 years he did this work in the U.S. and Latin America. He earned diplomas in agriculture, and degrees in social change and Latin American studies from Chalchihuapa (Mexico), Yale, Washington U, and Harvard.

In 2007 he returned to work as an artist. At his first show, he won a blue ribbon award for one of his

Santa Claus painting by John Robertson

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Santa Claus image by John Robertson

Mary Xmas - Look Long Santee the Virgin has Come and Gone

She went off with John, who built her a house outside of Ephesus.

Religious art is 50" x 70" acrylic on unstretched canvas

Christmas social commentary image

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Hey! Who will stop the Snow Happy Holidays?

This painting references the Creedence Clearwater Revival song , "Who'll Stop the Rain" - about Woodstock and the Vietnam war.. Here is a link to the Creedence Clearwater website with the lyrics of the song

http://www.creedence-online.net/lyrics/who_will_stop_the_rain.php

In Vietnam it rains, In Afghanistan it snows.

Reindeer art. Artist John Robertson
Art is 50" x 70" acrylic on unstretched canvas

Snowy Egret in Polluted Lagoon

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:32:00 +0000

Walking past a polluted lagoon near my studio this morning on the Pacific Coast and spotted this Snowy Egret with a spray can of white paint next to it. Egret probably doing a little touch-up.

Ken Kusterer political art

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

We Feed it to Those Chickens
acrylic, 30x24

Wording on the painting: "Every year Delaware farmers grow enough whole grains and protein-rich beans to feed all the hungry people in the entire Eastern half of the United States, but we feed it to those Chickens." Where I live, he poultry monopoly dominates local agriculture. First painted for a show sponsored by the state farm association, at the opening reception it was hung out of sight behind the caterer's equipment.

About Ken Kusterer:

Ken Kusterer briefly studied art and graphic design at Yale while working as a printer for Yale University Press. He became active in movements for peace, racial equality, human rights, and organizing for those without money, homes, or papers. For 40 years he did this work in the U.S. and Latin America. He earned diplomas in agriculture, and degrees in social change and Latin American studies from Chalchihuapa (Mexico), Yale, Washington U, and Harvard.

In 2007 he returned to work as an artist. At his first show, he won a blue ribbon award for one of his

gallery www.Artworx19971.com, and also at www.kustererartworks.com.

Why Paint Like This?

My last show was called “Two Artists Who Can’t Not Paint.” For me, painting is a compulsion, not a career, not a hobby, and certainly not a pleasure.

All my life, in the many countries of the Americas where I have lived, I have never been able to escape the horrible awareness of the oppression and injustice that surrounds me. Every day, people are shunned, pushed down, beaten and even killed because they are darker than average, or female, or queer, or poor, or newly immigrant.

Working in the civil rights movement at age 19, I stopped studying art because it seemed like such a frivolous ego trip. There were too many terrible injustices that demanded my effort.

Teimuraz Gagnidze Political art

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:18:00 +0000

The picture "Fifth Ward" is a political picture, which is created to show the real face of the Georgian government of the period of Mikheil Saakashvili and governmental party "National movement" (2003-2012). This picture was presented in front of a building of parliament of Georgia 2 days before elections 29.09.2012

Size: 150X120 cm. Oil, canvas + application, pop-art elements

For more information and photos visit: you can see here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/მეხუთე-პალატა-ნაციონალური-მოძრაობის-ნამდვილი-სახე-TeimurazArt/417775531608838

Political Artist Hans Andre

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000

" The Process " Painting in acryl and oil by Hans Andre

www.hansandre.com

Christopher Stone political artist

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000

"Let them eat cake" 125x102x4.5 cm, acrylic, canvas

"Freedom bottled" 122x80x4.4 cm acrylic, canvas

Christopher Stone has been an artist for a long time, starting in his youth as a cabinet maker, going on to sculpture, and just of late painting again professionally.

Many countries have his work in public collections, and private customers span the globe.

Now living on Ibiza Christopher has taken some time to study the worlds situation, some of which is reflected in this body of work, sometimes subliminally, some times glaringly obvious.

Christopher Stone, Social/political artist is now a name used in many circles, and a reputation is being built.

The Architects gallery in Teddington, London will be showing five of Christopher's latest works, which were composed especially for them and their coming exhibition, this gallery will also be holding several pieces on permanent display.
The Architects gallery has exclusive rights to this body of Christopher's work in the UK.

A percentage of any monies due to me from sales of my work at this exhibition will go to "Keep a child alive"

The artist quotes,

"Sam was the only person/gallery to give me any time, the only one who has taken me seriously, she has given me her ears, her eyes, her shoulder, her time,and her gallery.

Now we can see that Sam's patience, and kindness has paid off".

And those that were dancing

were thought as insane

by those who

could not hear the music.

My thanks to Sam, and all at the architects gallery.

"Outlands"

From 29th November 2012.

The exhibition will include:

Vyvyan Davies (oil on canvass landscapes)

Brian Denington (ditto)

Robin Rutherford (screen prints of cyclists, boats)

Mitsushige Nishiwaki (etchings)

Alex Prior (photographs of installations such as ferris wheels)

Orsi Cowell-Lehoczky (oil on canvass household objects)

Independent Art
Gallery exhibiting
Contemporary British
Art and International
& Emerging Artists.

T +44/(0)20 8977 6999

E curator@thearchitectsgallery.com

http://www.thearchitectsgallery.com

opening hours
10:30 am - 6:30pm Monday to Friday
Closed on Wednesday except by appointment
Saturday 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

the architect’s gallery ltd
The Powder Rooms
69-71 Broad Street
Teddington
TW11 8QZ

Bob Tomolillo political art

noreply@blogger.com (What Art Did He Make Today) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:33:00 +0000

Bob began his career during the burgeoning of the print workshops in 1970. He worked at Impressions Workshop in Boston and at The Printshop in Amsterdam Netherlands . He earned a B.F.A. from Umass, Amherst, and an M.F.A. from Syracuse University. A faculty member at the F.A.W.C. in Provincetown , Mass. and member of the Boston Printmakers since 1983 his lithographs are included in collections here and abroad. In 2009 he was the co-winner of the Dayton Peace Museums International Peace Prize . He is currently participating in the London Liberal Arts College , "Year of Subversion Exhibition". His essays on "Art" have recently appeared in the Print Alliance Journal "Prints and Politics" and Visual Overture Magazine. Other writing has appeared in Literal Minded, Orange Alert ,Shine Journal ,Askew Reviews, Glossolalia ,Blinking Cursor, Bap Q, Lunarosity, Icelandic Review, Words Undone , Writers Billboard , First Writers Magazine, Milspeak , Subterranean Journal, South Jersey Underground , Cavalier Magazine , Yellow Mama, Visual Overture , Vox Poetica ,and Spilling Ink Anthology.

Bob Tomolillo also sent this

excerpt from

“Brownstone” a short story by Bob Tomolillo

“The most solid stone in the structure is the lowest one in the foundation. “ Kahlil Gibran

Gibran , the author of “The Prophet” ,one of the best selling books of the twentieth century grew up in the Lebanese Syrian community in Boston’s South End . Kassim , a young mason who works in the area says that he is a cousin of the great poet , often quoting Gibran who researched and wrote his famous book while living in Boston. We often pass the plaque to Gibran near the Public Library that commemorates the lebanese born activist who preached that “your religion and my religion are the same , as they are both the religion of the spirit “. Kassim recited the phrase about the foundation every time we met , unaware that it was actually a metaphor on building social order . Cy would oblige the young Arab with a quote of his own like , “You’re only as strong as your weakest link” , which was a more appropriate phrase for the work we were doing . “Cousin Hassim”, as we now called him , came by our job to observe the progress we were making on the repair . We shared some useful tips on repairing brownstone while Kassim lamented his experience as an illegal resident in Boston . Kassim had competent skills , but was extremely vain , aggressively offering up an alternative approach toward every repair that we made . Before Kassim came to Boston he spent most of his time on the beaches in Beirut trying to hussle the older women who came to pick up young male escorts for the day. He met his wife , also Lebanese ,six years ago in Boston , had a child , and now live in a one room flat in the South End. The other night while Kassim was traveling back from a day at the beach with his wife and young boy he saw the lights from a state troopers vehicle beaming from behind . In the past ,whenever he was stopped by the police he would be given a ticket to appear in court , then be left on the side of the road while his car was towed away . After paying the hundred dollar fine and the towing charges Kassim would be back on the road trying to “make it in America”. The last thing he wanted was for his young boy to witness the event . He held back his nervousness but secretly fretted about what they would do if left by the road at night . He maneuvered the car across the highway then came to a controlled stop in the breakdown lane. He turned all the lights on inside the vehicle so the patrolman could get a clear view into the back of the car where his wife and child sat buckled to their seat . Kassim was respectful to the officer and answered all of his questions honestly . Luckily for them, being “polite and respectful” worked in their favor . The officer let them continue driving home but left them with a hefty fine for “driving without a license .”

Temporary visitors to this country use passports when driving or renting a car. Unfortunately , Kassim , with an expired visa and passport , can show no proof of his legal status , so he continues to live on the periphery . Its a nerve racking life that Kassim and his family have grown accustomed to . Living as an illegal resident without a clear pathway to citizenship keeps Kassim from enjoying the “fruits of his labor” . Kassim told us that he had saved thirty five thousand dollars after working last year. “If I could become legal here , he said, I would buy a house and put the money back into the system , but now I’ll send it back home to my cousin who will build two small homes with the money “. Kassim used his mason skills and anything else that he could do to make a buck . His wife helped out with the finances , working with a cleaning crew for minimum wage ,climbing up and down the brownstone stoops in the South End with a vacuum machine and cleaning supplies in hand.

Bob Tomolillo web site: http://www.libartslondon.co.uk/5620/bob-tomolillo/