The Art of a Revolution

There's no denying that Senator Bernie Sanders has his proponents fired up.  Many are now "feeling the Bern," including the award-winning musician Makana, who recently released to YouTube and Boing Boing his new Bernie loving anthem, The Fire is Ours.  It speaks to the frustration with a corrupt and dishonest political system, and praise for the only one who seems to stand out, complete with a blazing upright piano that taking "feeling the Bern" a bit literally.

It's clearly the work of a talented musician and songwriter, in that he makes unsubtle political language actually sound good from a musical standpoint.  It's a catchy tune that, with luck, will start getting stuck in people's heads.  No revolution is complete without music.  Or dancing.

Plus, I don't see any other candidate with their own theme song.  Well, at least not one they didn't write themselves...

But this isn't the only thing going out there in the world of Bernie-themed art.  HVW8 Gallery recently hosted a whole exhibition of Bernie art.  The Art of a Political Revolution - Artists for Bernie Sanders just wrapped up in Los Angeles, CA, and has moved to Austin, Texas, where it will open TONIGHT at 7pm!

It features the works of some sixteen artists.  They may not be Diego Rivera, but they show a variety of engaging styles, powerful imagery, and creative energy.  I think this one is my personal favorite:

I like the non-traditional color scheme.  Red, white, and blue is by now overused in political materials to the point where it has become meaningless.  Going with an unusual scheme of orange and green is fresh, earthy, and warm.  In line with him are at least three people of color, along with a man of indeterminate heritage.  These figures are in silhouette, so we can only identify them by their profile, and need to read into the details.  The woman next to Bernie stands out because she is orange, whereas the rest of those standing "Together" with Bernie are in shades of green, and because her Afro hairstyle marks her as Black.  The silhouettes, by lacking much of the traditional facial features we look for in a face, demand that we project ourselves onto them, and read into them, building up some of their identity for ourselves.  This is a reflection of what we always do with life in general (we see the world not as IT is, but as WE are) and with minorities especially, but by putting a bit of ourselves into them, it is also a call to empathy, linking back to the title concept that we are all in this "together."  The Revolution is for all of us.

New Hampshire is on fire!

New Hampshire is Feeling the Bern!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.

I know, it's a bit of a cliche at this point, but I stand by it.  Most, if not all, serious change has been brought about by a plucky group of devoted individuals.  The colonial Americans had a comparatively tiny army, compared to imperial Britain, but they won.  A small group of determined and indefatigable protesters drove the civil rights movement.  We can do this.  In Iowa and New Hampshire it has already started.

With 60.4% of the vote, Bernie Sanders has won the state by one of the widest margins in history.  The early race is looking like America is ready for a revolution.  Revolutions are never easy or unanimous, and we will certainly have a hard road ahead of us, but we must carry this momentum forward, and work to forge the America we all deserve.  

They tell us that things can't change.  They tell us this to stop us, and count on us to believe it, and spread the lie.  But the world has already changed.  It's changed in all of us.  America is fed up with politicians who govern for the rich and for corporate interests instead of their constituents.  We just need to make manifest the change that's already happening inside, and bring it out to our daily lives.

Keep track of Bernie News and the awesome Bernie supporters over at The Bernie Blog!