POLITICAL ART
"J. FRED WOELL: AN AMERICAN VISION: -- AN ARTIST OF SUPREME DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT"
by Richard Kane
This film, the newest episode in the Maine Masters series of documentary portraits of Maine artists includes an interview with artist/writer Robert Shetterly about the nature of metalsmith J. Fred Woell’s political message. The film opens with Fred’s iconic piece Come Alive! You’re in the Pepsi Generation now in the collection of the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery. Rob opens the film calling that piece “subversive … because,” Rob says, “it’s really a medal given for imperialism that suggests the mask of America. All smiles and being young and being happy.” And Rob foreshadows the message of the film and Fred’s work saying, “but there’s a dark side.” ... KEEP READING
