Fine Fire in the Village
Is everything fine?
This one was part of the exhibition “A New Deal for Artists.” The US government created the Public Works of Art Project after the Great Depression to pay artists to create public arts for public spaces, like the school and the local city hall. Some interprets this as propaganda — the government sort of wants the artwork to reflect optimism about the future despite the hard time during the depression. Or you can argue that it’s public display and that responsibility naturally comes with it, sacrificing some of the artist’s personal expression. There were even projects funded by the Department of Agriculture that would have photographs reflecting… you guess it, the US rural people and life.
This specific painting shows some nice Southern California view. Until I noticed those tiny fire, and I love those tiny contrast. :its-fine-fire:
The danger parallels other stresses that faced the region during the Great Depression, as the homeless and hopeless from the drought-plagued Dust Bowl poured westward in search of agricultural work. The destitute hordes demanded far more jobs than California could offer.
This one is not really fire; it might actually be sunshine overflowing to the ground. The style is pretty wild anyway, which sort of correlates to fire. I will personally see those circular stroke of trees as some green fire.
The description from the website says “escaped the constraints of city life to find a more authentic existence in nature,” which sort of makes sense. This utopian feeling is not the existing reality, so you will need some imagination, which then becomes this wilderness.