(3/09), 25”x 44”x 1 ¾” (fully open) to 25” x 22” x 3 ½” (shut), Materials: Oil on panel, wood, wood putty, gold leaf, brass hinges.

About:

This piece is a commentary on living Idols- charismatic leaders of movements. According to theologian and WWII refugee Paul Tillich, Idolatry doesn't stop at religion. It is when we put our force, our actions, our faith behind a symbol of something that is less than the whole. A human idol is fallible.

These two men live in a state of hypocrisy- acting against the ideals of the systems they purport to believe in and live by. One is a self proclaim "militant" Atheist, the other a Fundamentalist Christian.

The frames represent the ideals they epouse while the text behind the image tells contradicting story of their actions and words.

I chose a painting style that mixed Byzantine Christian with 50's cold war propaganda posters. The hinges are placed in such a way that the two men can never face each other.