Artwork shuffle at Wisconsin governor's mansion raises eyebrows

[PeaceNikki]

Earlier this year, the governor and first lady Tonette Walker took down Lenz's painting "Wishes in the Wind," a realistic portrait of three children - one black, one Hispanic and one white - playing with bubble wands on a Milwaukee street.

...

In an interview, Lenz said he carefully selected the three children portrayed in "Wishes in the Wind." The African-American girl, featured in a Journal Sentinel column on homelessness, spent three months at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission with her mother. The Hispanic girl is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. And the boy's father and brother were killed by a drunken driver in 2009.

"The homeless, central city children and victims of drunk drivers normally do not have a voice in politics," Lenz explained in an email. "This painting was an opportunity for future governors to look these three children in the eye, and I hope, contemplate how their public policies might affect them and other children like them."

He added: "I guess that was a conversation Governor Walker did not want to have."

Much more at link: http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/123169908.html

This piece was commissioned by by the foundation that runs the governor's Maple Bluff residence and Lenz is an artist whose work is in the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

[sakabatou]

1. Walker: An asshole in sooooo many ways.

[glinda]

2. So sad.

[PeaceNikki]

3. What kind of a monster wouldn't want to be reminded every day of the vulnerable that need our help?

A fucking preacher's child.

[NYC_SKP]

4. NB: That "photograph" in the article and your OP is actually a Painting!! Cool, Eh???

It's called "Wishes in the Wind" by David Lenz and was commissioned specifically for the governor's residence in 2007.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/110469404.html



I love it!

:P

ETA Link to the artist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lenz

[PeaceNikki]

5. It's beautiful, isn't it? And he took it down. He doesn't want to look at it.

[Odin2005]

6. That's a PAINTING!!!

WOOOOOOOW!!! :wow:

[NYC_SKP]

10. Yes, here's another one by the same artist:

[blogslut]

7. So, let me get this straight

A modern governor from a northern state decides that he wants to decorate the first floor of his taxpayer-funded home with items that commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War?

From the Walker's http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=238322">press release:

Gov. Walker: New Executive Residence theme highlights Wisconsin's historic role in the Civil War
6/3/2011

In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Governor Scott Walker and First Lady Tonette Walker are pleased to announce the addition of Civil War themed artwork and artifacts to decorate the interior of Wisconsin’s Executive Residence.

"More than 91,000 citizens from Wisconsin fought in the Civil War at a time when there were only about 775,000 people in the state," said Governor Walker. "Wisconsin soldiers played a key role, and we want to honor the significance of their sacrifices as we commemorate the Civil War during this sesquicentennial year."

Among the pieces now on display at the Residence are a painting of "Old Abe," the bald eagle which served as the mascot for many Wisconsin soldiers, "Old Abe" glassware, vases depicting Presidents Lincoln and Grant, a letter from Lincoln to General McClellan, and other artifacts from the war including a rifle, sword, and flag.

The painting Wishes in the Wind, which was previously on display in the Drawing Room, is on loan to the Central Library in Milwaukee where 560,000 visitors each year will see it, learn about its significance and continue the discussion about providing hope and optimism for the least privileged in our society. By comparison, the Executive Residence hosts approximately 15,000 visitors each year...

WTF?

[PeaceNikki]

8. You can't make this stuff up, can you?

Don't miss this gem of a move, also, too: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4873957

[jmowreader]

9. I don't think that painting should be in the governor's mansion...

He doesn't deserve to have such a thing of beauty in his house, the people should be able to see it.

I would, however, like then to replace the painting with a working iron maiden. Not only is such an item more in tune with Governor Walker's working principals, when the citizens of Wisconsin finally get sick of Walker's shit and storm the mansion at 2am they'll have it there to use.

[PeaceNikki]

11. I thought that, too. Until I read the words of the author and the foundation.

[snacker]

12. I shared this info with my daughter...

this was her reaction:
I saw this guy's exhibit, and it made me cry because the paintings were so lifelike and represented the lives of the children of Milwaukee in such an amazing way. To look at one of the paintings actually feels like you are looking into the kids' eyes. You would have to be a heartless monster not to be moved by the paintings.....makes complete sense that Walker removed it.

[PeaceNikki]

13. Heartless monsters indeed.

:(

[Lifelong Protester]

14. Thank you for sharing, although more crap news about the soon to

be ex-governor isn't exhilarating, the art work is. Art can and does inspire us to do great things, or at least, the right thing.
But really, this man, and I am guessing his wife, too, are clueless.

Cripes, we can see CW stuff in the capitol and at the Veterans' Museum across the street. I'm a CW "nut" and I think we do not need more CW stuff in the Governor's Mansion at the expense of such an inspiring piece as "Wishes in the Wind".

[PeaceNikki]

15. Yeah. Walker is a public official living in a publicly maintained house.

That piece was commissioned specifically for that home.

He's a monster.

[sunnystarr]

16. Here it is hanging in the governor's residence

It was interesting to note the following prophetic comment at the site by "the doctor"

"Don't worry....Scotty will take it down....he's still ticked off that Milwaukee County ditched him like a dirty dog in the election....."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/110469404.html

[wildeyed]

17. What a beautiful painting.

I saved it as my desktop wallpaper. Stupid governor. I would love to live with a piece of art like that.