America in Peril
Every painting in Chronicle of an Unquiet Age documents the defining events, people, and issues that shaped its moment in history. Created in real time as events unfolded, each work serves as both an original oil painting and a historical record, reflecting the belief that the news of today is the history of tomorrow.
TRTA-2022-048 | July 2022 | Oil on Canvas | 34" x 26"
By July 2022, President Joe Biden faced growing scrutiny as inflation reached 9.1 percent, gasoline prices strained households, and recession fears intensified. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell raised interest rates, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen defended the administration’s response. Abroad, Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine continued to disrupt food and energy markets as Volodymyr Zelensky sought more aid from the United States and NATO allies. America in Peril reflects a nation under pressure at home and abroad.
Democrats cited low unemployment and new legislation, while Republicans argued policy failures that had deepened the crisis. Within America in Free Fall 2022, the painting presents a moment when economic strain, political division, and global instability appeared increasingly connected.
The January 6th Committee is holding Prime Time hearings. The star witness is Cassidy Hutchinson a White House staffer testifying about what she saw and heard on January 6th. Hutchinson claims Trump tried to grab the wheel of the Beast and is immediately corrected by Secret Service in the car that the incident "Never Happened." Much of her testimony was hearsay. Her texts were leaked which ended up making Liz Cheney's star witness look like a fraud. Jon Voight calls for the Impeachment of Joe Biden. Biden's advisor Deese says this is about the "Liberal World Order" and Americans are wondering what the hell does this mean? Biden seems to be taking aim on America's Freedoms, Morals and our very Future... but Americans are seeing the light and are now waking up. Democrats are looking to replace Biden in the 2024 election...but who would replace him? The Dems bench is really sparse. On July 4th Robert Crimo opens fire on a parade killing 8 and wounding more than 30. He eluded authorities by dressing as a woman. You can't make this stuff up! Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficing. All in all it feels like we are living in the "Upside Down" from "Stranger Things!" America in Peril stands as a record of mid-2022, when many Americans believed the country was continuing down a dangerous path of decline and uncertainty.
