Salt Pillars of Chicago
This one is from about ten years ago. This was one of the first Spray Paint paintings that I planned out but allowed the mistakes to participate. I also brought this concept into photoshop.
Shortly after I slowed down painting tangible things. For many years I focused on digital.
I woke up this morning thinking about this painting.
I’ve been thinking about Lot …. A lot.
But more specifically his wife.
Lot’s wife looked back on the burning cities and turned into a pillar of salt.
I can see that story allegorically now. Through my own behavior and others I see on social media. When shocking events happen in the world our devices continuously feed us information. We get caught up in the carnage. We get caught up in the scawses and causes. We pick a side.
We pick a tribe.
We go online.
And pick a fight.
To what end?
I understand the need to be informed. But, look to long and we become Pillars of salt. Anger and bitterness hits us like a drug. Then our thoughts become our words and our words become our actions and finally all that is left of us is bitterness and salt.
I feel like that is exactly what the people at the top want. They don’t care who you are hating on, just as long as you are hating on someone. Angry people spend more money. Fear is the number one metric of consumerism. So when you feel your heart hardening and you grind your teeth. Remember that is right where they want you to be.
Feeding into hate allows hatred to grow.
