One Pop for Pop Patriotism
I’d be lying if I said I attended the press preview of “Pop Patriotism” at the Jones Center for Contemporary Art purely out of my sense of duty as a cultural reporter. The truth is, I was there as much as a proud dad as an arts guy. The Texas Fine Arts Association had assembled an exhibit of artwork by students from four local grade schools, and my sweet third-grader, Rosalind Faires, was among them. Of course, as happens sometimes, you do something for one reason and end up discovering a different and equally wonderful reason for having done it. The show was a response to the events of Sept. 11, a way of channeling children’s feelings about the event or their country into visually creative outlets by giving them a chance to make works related to patriotism. The results ranged from cartoon images of Uncle Sam colored by kindergartners to personal drawings about the attacks, the U.S., and American ideals by first- through eighth-graders, to a class’ representation of Old Glory with foil stars on a field of torn blue paper and stripes made by lines of red handprints — one for each student — across white butcher paper. The only constant was the colors: Every piece used red, white, and blue. Looking at them was unexpectedly fascinating — and moving. One child had represented the twin towers as vertical bars, one blue, one red, and had set the words “Peace,” “Freedom,” and “Never Forget” around them. Another had drawn an airliner from above, with red and white stripes running along the fuselage and white stars spangling blue wings and a blue tail. By the plane were the words “Freedom” and “Love.” One student had drawn an American flag and written on the stripes: “I like how all Americans are free, how all should be considered equal. I also like how we try to help each other.” One class had made flags of red, white, and blue construction paper torn by hand and arranged in whatever way suited the artist. Some closely resembled the Stars and Stripes, some didn’t, but they had clearly taken it as a point of departure. All displayed together on one wall, making a grid of flags, they called to mind Pop Art — Andy Warhol, anyone? — and the great melting pot that is the U.S.: different cultures, different creeds, but all one people, united by a common ideal, the dream of a country. That may have been what was touching about the exhibit, the way it reflected the dream of America as it lives in children’s hearts and minds; these images were born of a love of country unsullied by irony or disillusionment, in which that America of myth — indivisible, with liberty and justice for all — still exists. Looking at this “Pop Patriotism” and then through a glass wall at the exhibition “The Road to Aztlan” it hit me that these two shows belonged together: two cultures each reaffirming their faith in a mythic homeland through art. I salute TFAA, teachers Brooke Kirkland of Barbara Jordan Elementary, Hollyana Melear and Mason Branch of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Linda Herron of Trinity Episcopal School, Patty Resendez of St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic School, and of, course, all the students. The exhibition remains on view through November 30 at the Jones Center, 700 Congress. Call 453-5312.
Speaking of “The Road to Aztlan,” TFAA hosts a Talking Art presentation in conjunction with the show, the day this paper hits the streets, Thursday, November 15. Henry Estrada, curator of the Museo Americano in San Antonio, will appear at the Jones Center at 7pm. It’s free.
Tribute to Jess
It’s been more than a year since the majestic roar of Jess Walters, celebrated singer, director, teacher, and Austin’s operatic lion for 35 years, fell silent. A memorial event planned for November 18, 2000, was postponed when Walters’ son Emil Wolk was unable to make it from his home in England. Now, November 18 is here again and the service is finally taking place, on what would’ve been Walters’ 93rd birthday. Wolk, an award-winning director and actor, will lead the event, sharing tales of Walters’ years as principal baritone with the Royal Opera House in London and personal memories of his father. The tribute will be held at 5pm at One World Theatre, 7701 Bee Caves Rd. No admission will be charged, but a $20 donation is requested for the Jess Walters Foundation. Call 329-6753 for info.
This article appears in November 16 • 2001.