“The Last Protest” © Kris Ralph
left to right Bob
Marley, John Lennon, Victor Jara, Billy Bragg, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joe Hill,
Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Geldof, Bono, Michael Franti
The Central figure in this piece is
Joe Hill, a unionist/musician who was executed in the state of
Utah over a murder charge ,no evidence was given and the trial was unfair. Yet
the authorities thought it best to rid the world of this “trouble maker”
a man who helped copper miners and other industrial workers achieve safer working
conditions. Under this portrait of Joe Hill
which was taken from a photograph of his body in the morgue. I have painted
flowers from the bullet holes and added words from the last poem he wrote whilst
awaiting his execution, Novemeber 19th 1915…
…” And let the merry breezes blow my dust to
where some flowers grow
Perhaps some fading flowers then would come alive and bloom again.”
American Artists Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger
took up the cause in the 1930’s into the 40’s and beyond .
Songs recorded by Woody Guthrie have taken on a status far beyond his life He wrote the “Ballad of Joe Hill” .
Pete
Seeger was gaoled for defending his right to free
speech. He continues to do humanitarian work .
Bruce Springsteen's
Song “Born in the USA” was pivotal in America recognising Vietnam
Veterans causes and acceptance after the Vietnam War.
British
artist Billy Bragg
to Joe Hill’s right, sits with legendary Bob Dylan & Joan Baez.
Nora Guthrie , Woody’s daughter recently released hundreds of Guthrie’s
songs and poems that were unpublished and asked Billy Bragg to put them to music
the result is two albums “Mermaid Avenue 1&2.
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez were formidable voices of protest in the 1960’s
Dylan’s “God On Our Side” and “Masters of War” do not
date.
To Joe Hill’s far right I have depicted three legendary
song/writer/singers, Bob Marley , John Lennon
and Chilean singer,
Victor Jara.
In
South America from 1959 to the 1980’s there were 15 Latin American countries
under oppressive Military Regimes. Victor Jara
was executed in the National Stadium of Chile by Pinochet’s brutes who
tortured him breaking and cutting off his hands before they shot him in front
of thousands of people.
John Lennon’s “Imagine” has to be
one of the greatest anti war songs ever written.
Bob Marley’s, legacy of songs continues to
promote anti-racism and human rights for all people.
To Joe’s far left stands Bob Geldof, Bono, and
Michael Franti.
They are the 21st Century Musicians of Conscience
negotiating with world leaders.
(This year , 2005, Portugal awarded the Band U2 the highest Honour of Liberty for their humanitarian efforts on African poverty and human rights issues).
Michael Franti represents the new breed of artist able to convey their messages to the privileged via concerts and the Internet He also walks the talk.
Yes Joe your flowers still grow. Cheers Kris
I Am Not At War With Anyone-Luka Bloom
© Kris Ralph 2005