The Orange Bastard! 

Editor: This painting, entitled "The Orange Bastard!", has a sort of chaotic, cartoonish energy, even though it also feels quite critical. It's acrylic on, well, I'm not sure, but the figure at its center looks… unsettling. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: Well, besides the rather pointed title, and the Molotov cocktail starter kit he's brandishing, I'm drawn to the sheer theatricality. It's like a punk rock opera distilled into a single, gloriously garish image. Notice how the burning Capitol building isn't just background; it’s almost another character, isn’t it? Dave Macdowell, is really laying bare a particular frustration here, and using hyperbole as his weapon. What do you make of the symbolism at play? Editor: The Confederate flag motif repurposed as a vest is... provocative. And the Twitter logo feels very pointed too. Is he critiquing the individual, or the systems that he sees as enabling him? Curator: Perhaps both, darling. Think about it – the personal is political, no? The layering of symbols—Confederate flag meets social media—speaks to a very modern form of…let’s call it discontent, shall we? There's a wildness here, an almost childlike rage, captured with a surprisingly deft hand. He paints how he feels and wants us all to take notice. Does the painting resonate with you or leave you cold? Editor: It definitely doesn't leave me cold. There's so much anger and accusation packed into one image! I think seeing all these symbols mashed together definitely creates a statement. Curator: Exactly! It's a statement alright, a fiery one that hopefully sparks some serious reflection. I love art that acts as a mirror – even when it's reflecting something uncomfortable.