Thomas W. Benton – Artist/Activist
There are many ways to study history. We have written history but that always reflects the philosophy of the individual writing it and that history and will change over time. Even the memories of those who lived the history changes over time. There is one thing that is constant – the art that was created in response to the world as the present became history. Thanks to Daniel Joseph Watkins we have the opportunity to see the art of Artist/Activist Thomas W. Benton. Benton’s poster art documents the political issues of his home in Aspen Colorado and the United States beginning in the turbulent 60′s.
Thomas Benton was born in Oakland California on November 16, 1930. Before enlisting in the Navy during the Korean War he attended Glendale Junior College. Following his time in the Navy he studied architecture at the University of Southern California and practiced architecture in the LA area for several years. In 1962 he moved to Aspen Colorado where he built a studio and taught himself the art of silkscreen. His studio became the meeting place for local intellectuals and Benton became a local activist. Like many during that period the Vietnam war shaped his politics but his fear that the commercialization of the Aspen area would destroy the paradise also was influential. In the late 60s he first met “gonzo journalist” Hunter S. Thomson and his career as a political poster artist took off.
In addition to 150 posters, both political and artistic, this beautiful coffee-table book contains several of the Aspen Wallposters which were a collaboration of Benton’s art and Hunter S. Thompson’s writing.
Hunter walked into my studio one day and said, “we should do an Aspen wallposter.” I said, “what the hell is that?” He said, “It’s gonna be a single sheet thing, and it’ll have your graphics on one side and my writing on the other.” He would write about local politics and other things. We would get together at night in my studio and I’d work on the graphics while he would write the whole damn back page in one night. Of course, that night might take a day and a half.
~Tom Benton
For those interested in the politics of late 60′s and early 70′s this book is truly a visual treat.
You can find more examples here.
5 Responses to “Thomas W. Benton – Artist/Activist”
I’ve always been liberal Ron, but during Vietnam I enlisted because I wanted to serve when it seemed my country needed me most. I love my country and I will always defend it with my life. My liberalism had nothing to do with the war, but rather my sincere desire to see the races and working people obtain social justice.
Some guys took the conservative ideology simply because they volunteered before the anti-war movement was in full swing and had to justify their intelligence, I suspect. Others used the anti-war movement as an excuse to be crappy dope heads, whom risked everybody’s lives by being high.
Most had no real opinion, took the insults in stride, and just lived with the refusals of service in bars and restaurants, (I was never spit on), and other general animosities toward people serving in the military. The animosity was quite heavy sometimes. Wearing your uniform off base and in public, was to invite negative comments. You could not be overtly proud of serving, which was my reason for enlisting in the first place.
I had no desire to become a general, get benefits, or the GI bill, which I knew nothing about till I was about to get out. All I wanted to do was put my uniform on and be good enough to stand between harm and my people. I wanted to defend my country. I wanted to defend my people. I wanted my family and friends to know that they were worth my life. I believed that the political atmosphere would change eventually, but man it took a LONG time.
So I have mixed feelings when I see reminders of that time. Almost schizophrenic feelings.
Allen
I too wore a uniform between 1968 and 1971. I enlisted only after I was drafted. I continued to oppose the war for the entire 3 years I was in the service which oddly never impacted my Top Secret clearance. I must admit I never met in hostility when I wore my uniform at home in spite of the fact that PDX was one of the centers of anti war protests. Before I went in the service I was in college at Portland State University where there were daily war protests. We had several active Marines that were studying there and had to wear their uniforms to class. They were treated with respect and joined us for a beer in the evening. I have heard stories about harassment of people in uniform but I never saw it myself.
Vietnam made me realize that I could not trust the government of the US and I never have. Like Iraq the Vietnam war was built on lies. I guess we will never learn but I won’t forget.
Ron, people overlook the honorable act of not running for re-election by LBJ. It was clear to me that he was totally distraught by the decisions he made concerning Vietnam and had decided not to defend them. I recognize now that he made those decisions with a WWII/Korean War mentality regarding the Soviet Threat. Considering how bellicose the Soviets were at the time, I can understand it. One only has to remember Nikita Khrushchev pounding his shoe and screaming at America; “we will bury you”, to understand our reactions leading to Vietnam, against that communist threat.
Nixon was the crook. He ran on ending the war, but then after getting elected, he come up with the qualifier, “peace with honor”, then expanded the war. Nixon was the liar and he paid dearly for it, which renewed my trust in government. I think that we must remember that governments make mistakes like people do.
As for politics during military service, I was going to have to run a bayonet through the heart of probably a decent and honorable person because my country said I must do this to defend my people. I could not afford the luxury of second guessing our leaders and possibly hesitating to defend. It was just all way over my head. If I died because of a mistake, so be it. If I killed because of a mistake, it would have to be worked out latter. There was no time in the present for considering the “big” picture.
But thanks Ron, I appreciate the opportunity to let some of it out.
Allen
When you look at history you have to look at all sides to learn anything from it. Tom Benton is one side. If there had been no Vietnam war there would have been no LSD tripping hippies, or at least not so many of them. The war resulted in an entire generation rejecting the government and society. Of course we hippies had to change course when when we had a family. Yes this hippie found himself wearing a gray pin stripe suit and riding in a corporate jet. But deep down inside I hated it and was in fact relieved when economic conditions made it possible for me to become an aging hippie. I live a very simple life now although I have the good fortune to be able to afford fast broadband. I own my house and was never tempted to take out an equity loan when I was getting 20 offers a week to do so. Yes. a 30 year sell out allowed me to re-discover my inner hippie.
Ron
We can learn something from everybody’s experience if we listen close enough. It’s a shame we don’t have another hundred years to implement the knowledge. We have lived in interesting times Ron, but I can see some of the same mistakes being made. However we have a black president, and he’s not bad either! Could you imagine that in your life time 45 years ago?