Rebellious Integration
John Hitchcock
"In-Terror!"
"IN-TERROR is a screenprint on a magnet inside an 8x8 inch screenprinted sleeve. I love the possibilities of how we can disseminate print media through stickers, magnets, posters, shirts, etc. Screenprinting is accessible and immediate.
The dialogue of politics during making an art installation, a live print action, or an exchange portfolio motivates me to ask questions and think about the world we live in. By using the print medium with its long history of commenting on social and political issues artists can disseminate information related to the condition of our society.
It all boils down to asking questions. As we enter the 21st century, we raise many questions about our past and present conditions. I feel that artists continue to ask the questions, the how, what, and why. In what capacity has art represented, misrepresented or changed the political and social views of the current time? How does European and American culture affect other nations? These are some of the many issues that artists examine over and over. The history of printmaking has a deep resonance in my artwork and teaching.
The content: Most of my current artwork revolves around images of the military and weapons. I attempt to comment on the complexity of war, power, and greed. It is important for me to make sense of the consumptive nature of the United States and its international policies and politics.
I feel that as an artist, American citizen, and as a member of the academic community it is becoming increasingly important to look at the history of America and ask these questions. Whether it is personal or political, it takes hard work, patience, perseverance, and commitment to make change happen.
I feel we are losing control of our democracy. We need to get the “we the people” in the mind set of the population. I feel that artists can probe and continually ask the who, what and why. When I say “we” I am referring to the citizens of our democracy. The complexity of corruption in Washington politics is taking its toll on America. I really liked this quote by the late Senator Paul Wellstone, Democrat of Minnesota. (it’s from the December 2002 issue of The Progressive Magazine). “The future will not belong to those who are content with the present. The future will not belong to cynics and people who sit on the sidelines. The future will belong to people who have passion and are willing to work hard to make this country better.”
I attempt to not be a voice to only educate; I attempt to understand our world to educate myself. To interact with people, whether it is making music or collaborating on an art project, I love how the dynamics of what happens when ideas spread like a virus."