John Affolter

The most challenging creative processes come when artistic process and technique collides with the unknown of real time, place and circumstance. Making visual sense of one's culture is an honored tradition met with the expectation of hitting the mark. First, a work of time and place must accurately convey the humanity or inhumanity of the moment. Second, it has to be appreciated for its artistic skill and accepted as a work of art. Finally, it has to transcend itself in meaning by addressing universal human values. 
This body, beginning in 2016, attempted to follow these principles while focused on American social disorder over the four years of the Trump administration. It was about the exercise of public communication and questionable leadership by those in political power. The series ended on January 20, 2021 with the departure of the 45th President and the inaugural of the 46th President of the United States. The overall effort was an attempt to use fact based events and create an artistic simulacrum of each event fueled by the seemingly immense false narratives that were unburdening the nation of citizens. There will be books written and doctorates awarded over the four years between 2016 and 2020. This body is only one of many creative efforts across the nation to make visual sense of this social confusion by telling a story in a creative way.