ARTIST STATEMENT
The statement “A democracy of sheep can expect a government of wolves” has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin, although there is no evidence to confirm this. In any case, the metaphor describes what occurs in a society that is not taking responsibility for its own governance. An uninformed, uninvolved electorate creates openings for self-serving, self-interested politicians who are not, in fact, representing the interests of the citizens. History has shown that passive, uninvolved people have been vulnerable to power grabs by unscrupulous leaders determined to force an agenda that does not reflect the will of the people. In these cases, rights were eroded, and horrific consequences resulted. Democracy requires full participation if it is to exist fully. This does not mean that we as participants are expected to agree all of the time or on all issues. It does require that we represent our views, engage in civil discourse, and arrive at fair and just governance. We must hold our representatives accountable and demand that they are responsible to those they claim to serve. For if we are lazy or disengaged, we will soon find that our ability to influence our fate is severely diminished and that we are without recourse.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I am a multi-disciplinary mixed media artist using a wide range of techniques to convey ideas exploring themes of psychological conflict, institutional criticism, and societal critique. My love of the natural environment often appears in unpolished juxtaposition to the cruelty and beauty of human endeavor. My work is about social change, insistence of the relevance of unconscious and dream material, and to my view of humor as a discipline that accesses both the randomness and the hidden order that surrounds us. I hold Master of Fine Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology degrees, having studied at the University of Iowa, Hebrew and American Universities in Israel, and Tisch School of the Arts, New York City. Faculty appointments included University of New Mexico, University of Iowa, and Albert Einstein in New York. I exhibit widely and am represented in public collections including the Denver Art Museum; the Getty Research Institute; Magic Silver Permanent Collections; Women in Photography National Archives; and the Universities of Wisconsin, Iowa and Northern Iowa Permanent Collections. My work appears in publications of the American Photography Institute, Magic Silver, Lifeworks Arts Press, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, New Mexico Photographer, and Montana Magazine. As a Lifetime member of the National Women’s Caucus for Art, I have served as Midwest Regional Vice-president, National Conference Chairperson, and Chair of the International Committee. My commitment to art and social change led to my organizing the regional exhibitions “Fearlessness: Moving Forward in a Post-Truth Environment” (2017) and “Persist and Reimagine” (2020).
© Laurie Talbot Hall