More from the Shooting Gallery
(originally ranted in 2002)

The first thing you will ever see on any incarnation on any of my sites is a beg for comment. I LOVE it when people send me their thoughts and feelings on the site and my work. It allows me to improve, evaluate my strong points and weaknesses, and revel in the fact that SOMEONE out there likes my stuff. Sounds cheesy, but if I can make one person transport themselves into one of my pieces, then my job on this pebble is done.

But there are those who comment in the most inappropriate ways, and about the most absurd things. Let me illustrate with two examples, both entirely true.

The web site format had just been redone. I was pretty proud of the thing, and was hoping quite sincerely for some positive reinforcement. I received a call at work one day from a colleague (not at my firm) who had just seen the site. He was effusive about the design, and my heart was warmed- but only temporarily. He then proceeded to ask me if the body parts represented there were mine. He then made several rather direct sexual affronts. (A side note to this story is that he called back to apologize, so all is forgiven.) In any case, let me take this opportunity to explain myself, lest I be misconstrued. The images represented on that site were in no way intended to be sexual, nor do I think they were. They are the parts that make up the human body- specifically the female body, which I am mesmerized by. Why am I mesmerized by the female form? Well, gee, because I just had a baby, and I am obsessed with the miracle of God's good work. He spoke blessing and wonder into our bodies in such a way that another human can actually live inside of us, and is sustained by our body. Unless you have experienced this, I doubt very seriously you get it.

Now the second one is quite possibly even more sinister than the first. It was brought to my attention that there was some confusion about two certain pieces of artwork that were on the site: Mein Kampf and New World Order. Both contain Nazi imagery, and one contains a pentagram. Now, here's the kicker: A DESIGN STUDENT objected to the fact that I am about to be employed by the educational institution they attend because of this imagery. Let me restate the irony: A DESIGN STUDENT said this. And not to me- but to his DESIGN INSTRUCTOR! Now, okay. Let's put on our college caps. When someone writes an article about the Nuremberg Trials, does that mean they are a Nazi War criminal? When a news reporter covers the Young Republican's Convention, do we assume that person is free-basing George Bush when they go home? As artists (if I may call myself one) it is our DUTY to put a spin on social commentary. I intended Mein Kampf to look like Hell, which is precisely where I think Nazis and their ilk are going to go. And as far as New World Order, you take a piece of artwork whose main focus is a CHICKEN seriously, then you need your head examined.