Clash

from the History of Rock & Roll

48" x 54"

acrylic  and rhinestones on canvas

2010

Private collection, Houston, Texas

Exhibitions

Bering Art Collective, Houston, Texas, The History of Rock & Roll, October 9 - 30, 2010

With the arrival of such a powerful medium as rock & roll as a conduit of ideas and culture, it was only a matter of time before the idea began to spread. The Beatles appeared on the scene and suddenly the influence of music originating in Britain became a force to be reckoned with. The British Invasion pitted a new variation of rock & roll against the American style. It ushered in an era of culture as a method of societal dominance. Where the American sound had been the preeminent influence over the world, the British sound became the power player. It could be considered a form of cultural imperialism, a way to connect and transmit social ideas far more effectively than any propaganda or diplomatic method. Beyond the cultural impact, rock & roll also represented a growing dichotomy between the younger and older generations. In Clash, the young Queen Elizabeth is portrayed smiling joyfully as planes swarm overhead. It can be read as a very literal view of an invasion. More than that, it captures a moment where the world becomes aware of the enormous cultural power of rock & roll. Beyond her capacity as the monarch of the British Empire, Elizabeth as an individual is also a witness to the movement of rock & roll, having seen it evolve from its earliest form to the present day; a reminder that the force of cultural power extends from the lowliest to the most powerful without restriction.