doc•trine (dõk’trġn)
1. A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance
or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or
philosophic group; dogma.
2. A rule or principle of law, especially when established
by precedent.
"No other word" said director Claire McGovern "
so appropriately encapsulated our intentions with this
show. A doctrine presupposes a statement of official government
policy, especially in foreign affairs and military strategy
and the implications that this has had for the world in
recent times is just one of the issues we hope to address
in this exhibition."
Doctrine included work by such notable Californian artists
as David Best whose "Theater of War" was inspired by the
climate of political aggression prior to the Iraqi invasion.
Charles Linder's installations of collected road signs
"Marksman #4" and old tin cans "Fioretti Illuminati",
both riddled with multiple bullet holes and featured in
the "Gun Room" at the gallery reflect strongly upon the
institutionalized tolerance for guns as a way of life
in American society. Works in diverse media by more than
thirteen other artists such as the recently deceased Wally
Hedrick, were also
on exhibit in this show which opened to critical acclaim and was favourably reviewed by Artweek Magazine
One of the primary obligations of artistic expression
within the arts is that it must reflect upon the social
and political conditioning of its time. More importantly,
art has the ability to transcend the weight of censorship
that afflicts the printed word or televised presentation. Even with the use of provocative
imagery, political art can present values that challenge
the status quo and are instrumental in creating useful
debate. Hardship and suffering to a large degree cultivates
true artistic creativity and in times of war and recession,
these feelings are manifest. The art world must respond
in ways that will pave the way for change
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