Democracy Blood Censorship Police...

Andrew B. Gardner

1970 · Screenprint · Drawings and Prints

New York printmaker and art teacher Gardner chose bold Op Art colors for this word-based response to searing events that took place at Ohio’s Kent State University on May 4, 1970. When National Guardsmen fired at students protesting the Vietnam War, four people were killed and nine wounded. That tragedy prompted the artist to compose a poetic litany that moves between references to political ideals and descriptions of dark forces roiling American society. Commas are omitted to encourage multiple readings. Gardner’s use of text encourages ambiguity and anticipates Jenny Holzer’s and Barbara Kruger’s later use of language in their art.

Artist

Andrew B. Gardner

Date

1970

Medium

Screenprint

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of the artist, 1971