CONAL, Robbie

1990 - 1992

poster, signed

23.75 x 22.75 in.

Robbie Conal achieved national fame for the scathing posters he made of politicians and political abuses. In midnight guerilla-type raids, he plastered them all over Los Angeles, and other large cities, so that drivers and pedestrians could easily read his message. In Artificial Art Official, Conal takes a swipe at the then Senator from North Carolina, Jesse Helms, who was up for reelection and had been an outspoken critic of the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). At the time, the NEA, a government-funded agency, had given grants to support the work of Robert Mapplethorpe and Andres Serrano. Though well respected photographers, their imagery ignited a firestorm of controversy because some perceived their content as obscene. Helms was quick to agree and vociferously declared that taxpayers money should not be spent on this type of art. He rallied many to his cause and introduced the Helms amendment which denied NEA funds to individuals or organizations who incorporated homoerotic content, the denigration of religious objects, or individuals engaged in sex acts. Conal was incensed by the amendment as only certain, politically correct artists would be allowed access to government funding. In the end, the amendment was rejected but the government did severely restrict NEA grant making procedures. Note how in this poster the hole in the palette is in the middle of Helms head. Through word and image, Conal communicates his message that Helms is not the art official who should be making decisions at the NEA or any place else for that matter.

1990 - 1992

CONAL, Robbie

United States, b. 1951

Gift of Gary H. Brown

1992.2