Visual Politics
The Art of Engagement
San Jose Museum of Art
November 20, 2005 - March 5, 2006
Title: San Quentin, State Prison, San Quentin, CA, 2000
Artist: Sandow Birk (American b. 1962)
Medium: Oil and Acrylic on Canvas
Dimensions: 66 x 90 inches
Collection of the San Jose Museum of Art,
Gift of the Lipman Family Foundation
Image Courtesy: The San Jose Museum of Art
The artist as social commentator is a time honored tradition of bringing awareness through visual means to a greater audience. Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement focuses
on post Second World War American political art with a strong emphasis on the West Coast.
Title: Resident Alien, 1988
Artist: Hung Liu (Chinese-American b.1948)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 90 x 60 inches
Collection of the San Jose Museum of Art,
Gift of the Lipman Family Foundation
Image Courtesy: The San Jose Museum of Art
To understand the significance of the collection one must think of the historical context especially during the turbulent
1960s. The Vietnam War was raging and protest politics had a home along with counter cultural activities in California that
was unmatched in its passion elsewhere in the USA. The Free Speech Movement of 1964 was founded at Berkeley, during this
time the hippie and Beat countercultures began their rise leading to significant nationwide social change. The Chicano Labor
movement of the San Joaquin Valley took place during these dramatic years and it was in Oakland that the Black Panther Party was
formed. With this brief enumeration of some of the events shaping the nation and the way it looked at itself the impact would
have been felt by the artists who choose to use social realism or commentary in their works.
Title: Raft of the Grand Wizard, 2003
Artist: Travis Somerville (American b. 1963)
Medium: Oil, Oil Stick, and Collage Mounted on Canvas
Dimensions: 106 x 147 inches
Collection of the San Jose Museum of Art,
Gift of Jeffrey N. Dauber
Image Courtesy: The San Jose Museum of Art
The exhibit is drawn exclusively from the permanent collection of the San Jose Museum of Art. The subject matter, selected
by the artist, is profound addressing such social issues as human rights violations, racism, identify and stereotyping,
free speech and environmental movements.
Title: Corporate Kiss, 2003
Artist: Llyn Foulkes (American b. 1934)
Image Courtesy: The San Jose Museum of Art
The images, like all art, are meant to provoke thought and dialogue whether on the highly charged issues or
the influence of corporate America and the power of advertising with the use of a known logo such as in
Corporate Kiss where the Disney icon, Mickey Mouse, perches on the artist's shoulder.
Approximately 60 works form Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement as the SJMA looks at the interweaving
of politics and art from their collection of contemporary political art.
Visual Politics : Art of Engagement
San Jose Museum of Art:
November 20, 2005 - March 5, 2006
Katzen Art Center, American University, Washington DC:
April 19 - July 29, 2006
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