Jonathan B.

Artist Statement

            The print that I have made, is called, “The power of the Flag.” The print is based upon conflict, but there is more than one conflict shown in the block. The conflicts I put into the print are mostly based around problems between the United States and Iraq, Afghanistan, Etc. Iraq is constantly under the threat of execution and the fear of the nuclear bomb, in which they have no defense against.

          The main emphasis of the print is the person on his, or her, knees with a corn sack covering their entire head. I tried to indicate that this person is being executed. The conflicts represented by this person are the recent executions in Iraq. These executions are mostly based upon equality of rights and/or freedom of speech. This person is intentionally being executed in front of the American Flag, which is a way to say that the flag has no power to stop this person from being executed no matter how powerful the American Flag is believed to be, hence, “The Power of the Flag.”

          On the right side of the print (left side of the block) is the explosion and smoke of a nuclear explosion, which is clearly representing the threat of the nuclear bomb. I made the explosion intentionally larger than the American Flag, to the left of the print. The explosion is larger than the American Flag to argue, “The American flag has no power to stop a nuclear explosion.” If there is a nuclear explosion, what power does the American flag have against it? The print is based on these conflicts because they are conflicts that I hope come to an end as soon as possible. I hope that there will be a time when people in the regions of Iraq and Afghanistan will no longer have to live in fear of being executed and the fear of the nuclear bomb.