Glenn Beck appearence: Part 1
WATCH: Glenn’s interview with crucified Obama painter
Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 at 6:44 PM EST
Press
Glenn Beck: Work of Art | 11/27/12
Glenn agrees with "the guy" who painted Obama as Christ - and then created his own work of art.
We've seen Barack Obama riding a lion, Paul Ryan as a hot dog and Hilary Clinton as Marilyn Monroe. After all this, you'd think no political art could shock us any more. And then we saw this:
Political artist Michael D'Antuono's painting, entitled, "Who the Hell Is Grover Norquist?" gives a whole new look at the conservative lobbyist opposing congressional tax increases. The founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform looms Oz-like above well-dressed supplicants, breathing smoke onto a backwards Republican logo.
"He is the lobbyist whose Svengali-like control over the GOP has forbidden them to end the Bush tax cuts for the rich, creating unpresedented gridlock and putting them in a very 'uncompromising position' negotiating the fiscal cliff," D'Antuono asserts on his website.
The only thing that could make this partisan painting better is a surprise appearance by Jon Keas' Wicked Bachmann of the West.
See more of D'Antuono's politically-charged paintings below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Did the artist go too far?
Jan 22,2013
Liberals need to keep their anti-gun/anti-NRA sentiment alive, and now they are doing it in disguise of honoring the young victims of Newtown, CT.
Charles Krause, former foreign correspondent for numerous publications including The Washington Post, is hosting the exhibit “The Newtown Project: A Call To Arms.” It will be on display starting Jan. 20, which is President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Day. He describes it as “the most politically significant art exhibit in Washington.” He hopes the artists will honor the children, but goes on to say the artists will “provide the President with the creative visual ammunition he needs to win the fight for gun control.”
Propaganda.
Here is a direct quote from Krause. (emphasis is mine)
"I believe fine art of this calibre can change perceptions and influence political change," said Krause. "I've seen art and artists influence events in Russia, in China and elsewhere. So I believe it can also happen here with an issue like gun safety and gun control."
It’s called “Brought to you by the NRA” and was painted by New York artist Michael D’Antuono. Krause describes it as “a direct and unforgettable indictment of the NRA.” He fails to explain how the NRA had anything to do with Sandy Hook and why they should be indicted. Instead, the piece gives the idea that the NRA specifically targets children because of the guns on the blocks. The NRA has never done or said anything to make people believe they want to influence children, hate children, or that they want them dead.
Ironically, Krause’s website says the NRA is calling for armed guards in schools and “they” (no explanation who "they" represents) say more guns and more violence is not the answer. Will he retract this statement because President Obama proposed the exact same thing yesterday. He wants a fund for 1,000 school resource officers at a cost of $150 million.
The tagline should say, “The NRA and President Obama want armed guards in schools, and they say more guns and more violence is not the answer!”
The website has a few more examples, and none of them honor the victims. Instead they target gun control. These examples are gory, horrific and extreme. It appears Krause is more interested in insulting the NRA than remembering the victims because these items do nothing for their memory.
Breitbart News Editor at Large Ben Shapiro said President Obama stood on the graves of the children of Sandy Hook to push gun control. Krause and these artists are standing on the very same ground.
Huffington Post | 11/27/12
A painting featuring President Barack Obama in a Christ-like pose is getting poor reviews from some religious authorities, Fox News Radio reports.
The painting by New York-based artist by Michael D’Antuono is titled "The Truth" and features Obama with a crown of thorns on his head, in a position that is reminiscent of the crucifixion.
Currently on display at Boston's Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery as part of D'Antuono's politically charged “Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012" collection, the piece was actually supposed to debut several years ago at New York City’s Union Square.
The painting was "meant to be displayed as an art installation in New York's Union Square Park on President Obama's 100th day in office," according to D’Antuono's website. "The painting was to be in a mock voting booth for people to view privately and then interviewed to express their own views."
D’Antuono said he received 4,000 emails "mostly from the irate Christian Right who misinterpreted the art as blasphemy" and canceled the event, a decision he now regrets.
Fox News | Boston 11/26/12
FOX News - A painting that features President Obama posed as Jesus Christ crucified on a cross is on display at a community college art gallery in Boston.
The painting by Michael D'Antuono is part of a larger exhibit called "Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012." It's on display at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery until Dec. 15th.
The painting is called "Truth" – and shows the president on the cross with his arms outstretched. A crown of thorns rests on his head.
It was originally supposed to debut nearly four years ago at New York City's Union Square. But that event was cancelled due to public outrage.
"I always regretted cancelling my exhibit in New York because I feel my First Amendment rights should override someone's hurt feelings," D'Antuono told Fox News. "We should celebrate the fact that we live in a country where we are given the freedom to express ourselves."
A spokesperson for the art gallery told Fox News there hasn't been any criticism of the painting.
D'Antuono said the public exhibition "has afforded me the ability to right a wrong."
He dismissed critics who called the display blasphemous.
"The crucifixion of the president was meant metaphorically," he told Fox News. "My intent was not to compare him to Jesus."
D'Antuono blamed the controversy on conservative media "trying to promote the idea that liberals believe the president to literally be our savior."
In the aftermath of his aborted first attempt – the artist said he received more than 4,000 emails containing messages that were "anything but Christian-like."
"But I accepted that it is their right to express themselves and hope that they now see it in their hearts to afford me the same right," he said.
Read more: http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/20189860/2012/11/26/painting-depicts-obama-as-crucified-christ#ixzz2E6Fi2YgI
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Artist Michael D'Antuono Tells 'A Tale of Two Hoodies'
A young Black child in a white hoodie offers a policeman some of his Sweeties candy. The officer, who is wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood along with his uniform, points his police issue semi-automatic Glock pistol at the child’s head. They both stand in front of an American flag, the center of which has been torn away to reveal the confederate battle flag underneath.
The scenario described above isn’t from a fever nightmare. It’s the scene depicted in artist Michael D’Antuono’s painting "A Tale of Two Hoodies." As the title suggests, it’s inspired by the Trayvon Martin murder. It’s an inflammatory image, to be sure. Some might call it extreme or even irresponsible. Alas, Extreme emotions often require extreme measures to be properly articulated. (continues)
Michael D’Antuono’s work is striking. His background as an illustrator sets a foundation for a remarkable oil painting style – deep shadows all set among poignant messages. After years of being instructed what to draw, the contraction of severe tendonitis led him to lay down the pencils and pick up oil painting – a move he says does not pay as well, but is much more rewarding. (continues)
The American
The Reality behind 'The Truth'
Michael D'Antuono has, in the course of a few months in 2009, become one of the world's most controversial artists. But unlike many deliberately 'shocking' new wave artists, D'Antuono claims that this notoriety has come about by accident rather than design.
D'Antuono's painting The Truth was splashed all over the internet and became a media sensation, featured in The LA Times and The National Review, and on many TV and (continues »)
The LA Times
Artist cancels showing of unconventional Obama portrait
A New York artist has canceled the public showing of his portrait of President Obama after receiving a barrage of angry e-mails condemning the religious nature of the work.
"The Truth," a painting by Michael D'Antuono, was scheduled to go on view Wednesday in Union Square in Manhattan (continues »)
The National Review
You Can't Handle 'The Truth'
Late last night, Kathryn drew attention to this Obama painting entitled "The Truth," by Michael D'Antuono, set to be revealed at an installation in New York's Union Square Wednesday — Obama's 100th day in office: just got off the phone with D'Antuono, and he had some surprising news: he's decided that he's not going to unveil the painting after all. (Though he didn't rule out a possible gallery showing later.) While being provocative is often the goal for a lot of artists, I asked D'Antuono (continues »)
