The artist is a 21st century P.T. Barnum.
D'Artuono is attempting to capitalize on Obama's reelection, recycling his old work for an exhibit at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery, "Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012."
The crucified Obama, depicted as Christ on the cross, was NOT an expression of "the Road to the White House 2012."
Here's my post from April 2009, the first time D'Antuono clawed for attention:
Michael D'Antuono's painting, "The Truth"
Artist Michael D'Antuono
In honor of Obama's 100th Day in office, artist Michael D'Antuono is unveiling his painting, "The Truth."
There's been an effort to hype the painting and stir controversy, which is exactly what D'Antuono wants.
Can You Handle "The Truth"?
Painter Michael D'Antuono To Unveil Controversial New Work at NYC's Union Square
More than a presidential portrait, Michael D'Antuono's new painting "The Truth" is a politically, religiously and socially-charged statement on our nation's current political climate and deep partisan divide that is sure to ignite a passionate dialogue. Until now, D'Antuono's subject matter has been purely non-political, choosing instead to paint iconic celebrity portraits and hard-luck romantic narratives but now the artist feels the need to make a statement. "The Truth, like beauty is often in the eyes of the beholder" says D'Antuono "and this piece is merely a mirror, reflecting the personal and political emotions and opinions of the individual". What is your truth?
On D'Antuono's website hyping "The Truth," he asks people to tell him what they think of his work via e-mail, thetruth@dantuonoarts.com. He wants you to express "your truth."
He sees his painting as a mirror that will reveal "truth" about the viewer. The meaning of the painting is intentionally ambiguous. It doesn't have one "truth." It has many interpretations.
I'm interested in knowing Obama's interpretation of the painting. With Obama being a Christian, I would think he would be very uncomfortable being depicted as the crucified Jesus.
Maybe it doesn't bother him. Maybe he thinks he's earned his place in popular culture as being Christ-like, "more popular than Jesus."
There was an uproar in 1966 when commenting on the popularity of the Beatles, John Lennon innocently referred to Jesus.
Lennon took an incredible amount of heat for his remarks. The Vatican even weighed in on the controversy.
But this is a much different time. Unlike the Beatles controversy, there's not a massive uproar when Obama is compared to Christ or seen as the savior. Whether Obama as Jesus is accepted as legitimate or decried as blasphemous, it's not really a big deal in 2009.
I'm not sure D'Antuono will get the reaction he seeks.
Todd Pruitt writes that "anytime we invest a politician (any politician) with messianic qualities then we are headed down a very dangerous road."
I agree with Todd that it's dangerous to consider a politician to be a messiah, to believe that our salvation lies in the hands of a human being.
Personally, I don't think D'Antuono is interested in making Obama out to be Christ. I don't think he really cares whether people interpret his painting to be elevating Obama to a god-like status or to be slamming the ludicrousness of Obama as Jesus.
I think D'Antuono is interested in pure self-promotion. In that sense, the artist is a lot like the lib media, the White House, and Obama himself. He hopes to exploit the First 100 Days-mania, too. Hype, hype, hype.
D'Antuono's painting is a stunt. This is all about him, not Obama and not Jesus Christ. He wants personal recognition and he thinks this is the way to achieve it, by potentially offending many Christians.
It's really kind of pathetic.
That's the truth.
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UPDATE, April 30, 2009: Artist Michael D’Antuono was interviewed on April 29, by Marc Maron on Air America's "Break Room Live."
D'Antuono cancelled his Union Square unveiling yesterday because he says that he was bombarded with over 3,000 e-mails (as of yesterday) from people outraged over the painting.
Maron wanted to know the tone of most of the e-mails.
D'ANTUONO:That's the reason why I didn't... I didn't... I cancelled the event today is because the overwhelming, 98 percent, were very upset on a religious level. And they were, you know, calling it blasphemy. And, I mean, I don't apologize for, you know, for showing it, creating it and showing it, but I really didn't mean to disrespect people's religion. It's meant as a political piece.
Yeah. D'Antuono's self-promotion continues. It's all about hype.
Of course he knew that he would offend some people. He claims that he had no idea people would be so hurt by his painting. What?
He says it was a sort of sociological experiment. He knew that he was pushing people's buttons on a very sensitive subject -- their faith.
Maron takes the opportunity to express his outrage over religious groups and individuals exercising their right to free speech and expressing their outrage. He bashes Christians as hypocrites, encouraging D'Antuono to do the same.
In my opinion, Maron has the right to express himself, as does D'Antuono and every other American.
Free speech is not a one-way street.
Watch the interview.
