UNPUBLISHED
Mixed media collage including cut-and-pasted newsprint, cloth, acrylic, cardboard, rope and foam core on wood panel, 12 x 12 inches, March, 2023.
NOTE: Original portrait is available. To inquire, please contact info@waynebrezinka.com
PRINTS AVAILABLE HERE
MY INSPIRATION
Jimmy Carter became the longest-living former president in U.S. history.
I was inspired to create this image of President Carter after reflecting on his long life of humble service. Whatever your view of his time in office, Mr. Carter was a man of good character, inspiring others to become good humans through his advocacy work for affordable housing alongside Habitat for Humanity for over 30 years, his 75 year marriage commitment to his wife Rosalynn, teaching at Emory University, his work to eradicate Guinea worm disease, his service as Lieutenant James Earl Carter Jr. in the U.S. Navy, and so much more.
This project was a self-assigned exercise in creative constraint. My goal was to be quick — to not overthink my every move and to use fast brushstrokes and materials already at hand in my studio: cloth, vintage newsprint, acrylic paint, glue, rope and cardboard. My intention was to not overwork the art.
I limited myself to a small fraction of the time I typically invest in creating a portrait, pushing back against perfectionistic tendencies, seeking a flow state. I completed the work by adding a gold frame, inviting a sense of reverence and respect for a lifetime spent in the embodiment of quiet goodness on behalf of others and greatly admired leadership throughout the world.
I am delighted with the outcome of this studio experiment.
PRESIDENT CARTER AND THE ARTS
In 1977, the Presidential Inaugural Committee commissioned five artists, including Jacob Lawrence, Andy Warhol, Jamie Wyeth, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Rauschenberg to commemorate Mr. Carter’s inauguration. Proceeds from the project were used to defray the cost of keeping Washington D.C. museums open for extended hours during Inauguration Week.
Today, The Carter Center's art collection includes an eclectic array of more than 1,600 paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, and other decorative items from around the world.