Bailey Roman, On the Fourteenth of April

Charcoal, chalk pastel, acrylic and watercolor on wood. 24 x 24 in., 2020

On the Fourteenth of April is filled with historical Easter eggs and symbolism that ties the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, and other cultural western American icons to today's political climate. It references Black Sunday, a devastating dust storm that happened on April 14, 1935, which destroyed both economic and agricultural sectors. The title references a line from Woody Guthrie's “Great Dust Storm Disaster” and his commentary on the everyday obstacles that Americans faced during the Dust Bowl. The quote draws a parallel to today's COVID 19 crisis, its physical effect on humanity, and the overlapping circumstances that we all are seeing today. Further, the use of western landscapes with a looming storm of pale horses adds more layers and references the quote from Governor J.B. Pritzke: "It's a Wild West out there."

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