Georgia Trend Magazine V3#7 Cover 1998

Editor: Here we have Jack Davis’s cover art for the July 1998 issue of "Georgia Trend Magazine." He used acrylic paint to create this vibrant caricature of a man caught in a swirl of political thoughts. It seems like the image is attempting to capture the tax-payers psyche! What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, this image screams production. Davis's use of acrylic, a relatively modern and readily available medium, speaks to the democratization of art production in the late 20th century. Magazine illustration blurs the line between high art and commercial design. Consider the layers – the acrylic itself, the printing process, the magazine's distribution. Each stage impacts its consumption and meaning. Editor: That's interesting, I was more focused on the political figures represented. Is that relevant at all? Curator: Absolutely. Those political figures aren't simply content; they're commodities. Each caricature is rendered, reproduced, and then consumed as a reflection of the anxieties and aspirations tied to political power and economic realities. Consider how mass media participates in shaping those views of politicians as consumable image. Davis seems very conscious of how he produces these images of power for consumption. Editor: So, you’re saying the content—who’s in the drawing—is almost less important than the means by which we see them? Curator: Not less important, but inextricably linked. How Davis crafts the image informs its meaning and the potential consumer response. How does his specific *rendering* impact the perceived qualities? Do they participate in their own creation of personality? The materials and means of production shape not only the art, but also, arguably, political consciousness. Editor: I never thought about it that way before – really cool. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about the image-making production alongside what the work presents makes for interesting discussion!