Title: Wonton Violence
Material: oil on canvas
Size: 44×72
Year: 1989
I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president. – Lyndon Johnson
In 1994, I was confronted at a Columbus solo show of mine by a Vietnam veteran who demanded to know how I had the audacity to portray a satirical scene from a war I did not attend. I explained to him that this was my own twelve-year-old’s evening news experience of seeing the same event, but backwards and in flip-flops, and he was satisfied enough to let me off with a stern warning. A short time later, a carpenter offered me sex in exchange for the same painting, but I sure took advantage of him – I sold him a forgery! What a sucker! I’m lying, by the way — Gallant politely declined the offer.