One of the artworks
included in Palettes: Past Present and Pursuits is the TRUMP sign I painted in
the days leading up to his election. Here’s the backstory to this 5-painting
piece.
Both the federal
and Florida constitutions protect political speech, which includes the right of
a property owner to put up signs on their land or building that support a
political candidate. Some people in or driving through Matlacha Island did not
care about that. Not once. Not twice. But six times, the signs I displayed on
or outside Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens were removed, stolen or run over.
I’m not easily
cowed. I finally painted my own TRUMP sign on durable, heavy-grade canvas and
installed it on the gallery’s roof. The sign created quite a stir. WINK TV News
sent out a camera crew the day after I installed it. A day later, Fox News and
NBC-2 send out reporters and camera crews as well. The story was even picked up
by Breitbart News in an article titled “Exclusive: Painter Converts Florida Art
Gallery to Support Donald Trump.”
But more satisfying than the news coverage
were all the people who came into the gallery to express their encouragement
and support. Those vandals did me a favor. The gallery made a fortune in sales!
Even though I
lighted the letters and surveilled them with a security camera, someone still
had the audacity to deface the letters with black spray paint in the days leading
up to the election.
Several collectors
have expressed interest in purchasing the letters. All proceeds of sale will be
used to provide scholarships for up to 5 cadets to go to the Southwest Florida
Public Service Academy to become law enforcement officers, firefighters or
EMTs.
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