An Alabama Catholic artist who pieced together 1,500 classical images of Jesus Christ to form a mosaic portrait of President Bush is defending the artwork against charges that it is “blasphemous.”
Frank Bear, owner of JesusMosaics.com, used a computer program to take “hundreds and hundreds” of sacred images from Renaissance artists to form the colorful mosaic of Bush. The $15 image, he says, “honors both President Bush and Jesus Christ.”
‘Christian president’
The Madison artist said he understands if people might be offended by the artwork, called “Our Christian President,” but said it was “more of a personal statement” than a political one.
“When President Bush was first elected, to be honest, I was very leery of the man,” Bear said. “But the more I saw, the more I liked. … I’ve seen him mention his [Christian] beliefs in front of world leaders, in communist China, all over the world. He’s not afraid.”
Bear has used the technology to create similar portraits of Catholic saints and Jesus. Many of his works are available in Catholic bookstores, but the Bush image is available only on eBay.
“This is not to make George Bush or anybody else holy,” Bear said. “As the man is witnessing the truth of his beliefs, we’re seeing the gospel, which is letting his light shine. If I’m living my life correctly, hopefully they will see Jesus Christ in who I am and in what I am.”
The portrait contains a caption from Bush’s speech at the National Cathedral days after last year’s terrorist attacks that asks God to “bless the souls departed. May He comfort our own. And may He always guide our country. God bless America.”
Steven Baines, senior religious organizer for the liberal People for the American Way, was repulsed by the portrait. He called Bear’s artwork “blasphemous” and “pure capitalism at its misguided best.”
No official reaction
“The fact that they would take a representation of someone who is so sacred to millions of lives … to paint a picture of a man that many people of faith find offensive in his policies … is insensitive and offensive,” said Baines, an openly gay minister.
There has been no official reaction from the White House, although Bear said at least one customer bought the picture to send to Washington. Bear said 10 copies were ordered by the Republican Party of Arkansas, but staffers there had no record of the sale.
Bear said he has sold about 100 copies of the picture, which is “better than expected.” Most images take between two days and two months to create, he said. Asked if he thought Jesus would be proud of the image, Bear replied, “Personally, I do.” (RNS)
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