Happy 250th, America!
Preserve the historic moment with art featuring the Unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Have you ever taken a moment to ponder what the Unalienable Rights actually mean, crazier still, what they look like? These rights were immortalized by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, and the opening of that august document's second paragraph has been called “the greatest sentence ever written.”
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain Unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
It is without a doubt a brilliant poetic flourish, and therein lies a profound civic challenge. While much of the Declaration reads as formal prose, these lines were written with lyrical verse meant to be interpreted through the hearts and minds of citizens.
Even if the founders and generations thereafter fell short of the ideals that burst forth from that vaunted quill, the poetry is meant to be alive. It is meant to interpreted, adapted, and elevated in a manner consistent with the contemporary attitudes and beliefs of We the People.
These three paintings are my invitation to you, the beholder and citizen, to ponder: “What do the Unalienable Rights really mean to me?” Further to the point, it is my hope that such earnest contemplation, collectively and at scale, might lead to a more perfect union.
In composing the three pieces, I drew upon the style of the celebrated Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha. Inspired by his ability to personify the four seasons using female figures and natural elements, I employed a similar framework woven with a rich tapestry of symbolism. From the dominant color palettes to the specific trees, flowers, gemstones, animals, and expressive elements, each painting speaks a silent language through its unique symbols.