a fresh spin on which came first
Spinach Harvest – Digital Painting – Dan Beck – 2005
Generally when I write – my inspiration comes from a choice of artwork – its implications or origins – but it is about the artwork – looking outward.
In an unusual twist, I am thinking about the climate of fear we live in. Living in Salinas (and even if I weren’t), I felt the hype over the 3 deaths and multiple illnesses related to E. coli tainted spinach a bit over the top.
I heard Jay Leno recently say that there were thirteen deaths caused by vending machines last year -
So basically there is over four times as much chance you will get killed by a coke machine than eating spinach – without even talking about health risks from too much soda.
Each year – approximately 35,000 people die in the U.S. of flu-related causes -
I painted the above digital painting – long before any E. coli spinach scare – it was a time consuming painting to go along with the time consuming task of harvesting. I have tremendous respect for these workers – they work incredibly long hours and just about always wave a hello if they see you – and most of them do work which no born and raised American would generally even consider let alone try.
So call me reckless, but I am more afraid of fast food than spinach, bigotry than illegal immigrants, and worst of all (in this climate of dwindling civil rights) – speaking up in a voice that might be heard.
See Also
- Death by Vending Machine – a tongue and cheek look at some of the stupidities in our world – but my take is “fear of litigation”
- Figures Art Gallery – original prints are available for all works in this gallery from 2005- in addition to this piece – others which were actually meant to be a bit dissenting
Tags: Art, digital painting, painting, prints
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