State of Denial
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-2022-057 | September 2022 | Oil on Canvas | 34" x 26"
It is the end of September 2022 and the Biden Administration continues it's State of Denial.
The Administration denies the failing economy, border crisis, supply chain crisis and raging crime and the fentanyl use across America. Biden continues his dangerous rhetoric dividing America again and again. His hateful rhetoric may have been a part of the death of 18 year old Cayler Ellingson who was struck and killed by a man claiming Cayler was a "Republican Extremist". which was found to be untrue. As the war in Ukraine continues Putin threatens Nuclear War and annexes Dombas and 4 regions in Ukraine. Putin enacts military draft for 300,000 Russian troops and the Russian people are protesting and say "Nyet." Biden sends Kamala to the DMZ and in her speech she states " We share a very important relationship which is an alliance with the republic of North Korea." Oops...she's in South Korea. Such an emabarrasment and incompetence.
FBI raids Mike Lindell at Hardee's drive thru and confiscates his cell phone. Biden Administration continues to deny the weaponization of FBI and DOJ. GOP leader Kevin McCarthy presents his "Committment to America to Restore, Rebuild and Renew" as the midterms are coming soon. Ron Desantis sends illegals to Martha's Vineyard causing a firestorm but puts the imigration and Sanctuary City situation front and center in the news. By the end of September 2022, Hillary Clinton had reentered public debate through continued commentary on election denialism and threats to democracy, while New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a major civil fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, and members of his family.
At the same time, Vladimir Putin escalates the war in Ukraine through military mobilization and annexation claims. State of Denial reflects a month defined by accusations, legal battles, and competing versions of reality.The composition features Hillary Clinton, Letitia James, and Vladimir Putin, linking domestic political conflict with international crisis. References to the Trump civil case, election integrity arguments, Ukraine battlefield setbacks, energy instability, and the approaching U.S. midterm elections suggest a world shaped by confrontation and distrust.The title speaks to denial on several levels—rejection of election results, dismissal of legal findings, and refusal to confront geopolitical danger. It captures a period when political factions often accused one another of ignoring facts.The painting records a September 2022 moment when truth, accountability, and power were fiercely contested across both American politics and world affairs.
