Art Prize 2021
Hypocrisy: An American Struggle, by Eugene Clark
acrylic on wood, 4' x 24', DeVos Place Riverwalk, Grand Rapids, MI
Hypocrisy- An American Struggle. Two historical moments regarding American civil rights & segregation, are contrasted with images from popular TV shows aired around the same time.
Moment #1: February 1, 1960, The Greensboro sit-in, was a civil rights protest that started when young African American students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and refused to leave after being denied service. In contrast, the Donna Reed show, aired February 4, 1960. “The Free Soul”, Jeff wants to travel the world.
Moment #2, September 3, 1957, nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, arrived at Central High School to begin classes & were met by the Arkansas National Guard and a screaming, threatening mob. In contrast, an image from Leave it to Beaver. The episode “Beaver gets spelled”, aired October 4, 1957. Beaver is given a note from his teacher to bring home to his parents, and he’s convinced he is being expelled.
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