From left to right: Adam Bell and Hamilton Glass stand in front of Recession 2009 mural
Artist, Hamilton Glass raised eyebrows when he unveiled his latest mural, titled “Recession 2009”, located on the back wall of ABL Tech, in Richmond, Virginia’s Fan district. Glass, a native of Philadelphia, PA, known for his sleek, thought-provoking Street Art, recently moved to Richmond, and quickly gained a following. An art enthusiast and business owner, Adam Bell of ABL Tech, commissioned Glass to render three murals on the exterior of his building. The mural of local controversy, “Recession 2009”, is a provocative piece showing a politician with a gun to his head. Some Fan residents were offended by the imagery in the piece and demanded Bell remove the mural immediately.
Bell believed the mural is an expression of the effects of today’s economy, and felt Glass had been unlawfully censored. In an effort to diffuse this acclaimed controversy, Bell decided to comply with Fan residents to remove the mural. “Recession 2009″ will be extracted December 1, 2009.
Listen to Hamilton Glass
Listen to Adam Bell
Published by Clarke Art Consulting © 2009
Mr. Glass,
I find your work pushing and edgy and having it the size it is with the statement it makes is quite wonderful. The fact that it’s a commissioned piece is an added grace. That it offends some in the FAN which only a while back was the victim of politicians looking the other way or not hearing the small quiet voices of those living in dilapidated and sub standard housing that was the Fan and who have now been gentrified out of their homes is so pleasingly ironic I can’t stand it. In addition I can only assume that I am not the only one who would not be disappointed if a great many of our ‘men of the people’ would go ahead and pull the trigger literally, or figuratively.
Mr. Bell is quite right, censorship is censorship, I know it when I see it and I’ll really know it when I no longer see your work on the wall. I do think it is quite kind of you to plan on removing it.
In actuality I would think Mr. Bell might need take up the standard for your work as I assume he likes it and commissioned it.. We are in great danger of only having pc art if we let the guiding force be about offending people’s sensibilities. I would pay close attention to zoning and planning committees as they have a habit of getting rid of what they or their people don’t like by planning and zoning it out of existence.
I will now go and listen to the audios on line for you and Mr. Bell. I probably should have done that before writing but everything really does seem to be in its’ own time.
elise
I’m sorry this has to go…it’s awesome! Very now image, very Bansky!!!
I believe this image is okay for the public, it seems to have a cartoonish/almost humorous approach to the very real current employment/unemployment climate.
Years ago there was a Billboard with a real photo of a teenager with a gun up his nose, representing snorting cocaine and that it kills. That was disturbing!!
A public penis or crotch would bother me, but this seems to simply be one man’s statement and will (would have) become historical in nature as time goes on. (Remember Dadaism? Weird and disturbing.)
Diane Clement,
Richmond Abstract Artist
This is an “art piece”. I agree that the imagery has a strong message, that could be mistaken or misunderstood but, offensive? I am not sure how this would offend.. unless the viewer knew shot themselves in the head by accident & the viewer felt this was making light of self inflicted gunshot wounding.
missed the first one but made sure I went to see it’s replacement. LOVE IT!
Check out the photos of the new one on my flickr pg.
[...] 2009 with his mural in the Fan @ VCU when it came to his “Recession 2009″ piece. (see Censorship in Art – Is It Legal? Nov 22nd, 2009 by Clarke Art Consulting.) More recently, a case of censorship imposed on art that has been on display in Los Angeles. [...]
[...] 2009 with his mural in the Fan @ VCU when it came to his “Recession 2009″ piece. (see Censorship in Art – Is It Legal? Nov 22nd, 2009 by Clarke Art Consulting.) More recently, a case of censorship imposed on art that has been on display in Los Angeles. [...]
I dont know why people complain about these artworks. they are great and actually state the truth of reality. who ever told Glass to cover it up shouldnt live in a place were street art is so prominent.
Thank you for your comment. Glass continues to work diligently creating social-commentaries. We can say with confidence he appreciates your support and words of encouragement.