Tag Archives: politics

We’re Not in Kansas, but …

I love what Sean Tevis is doing. He’s a thoughtful, committed guy who wants to make life better for his neighbors. He ran for office last year and lost—and seems to have frightened the old guard in his area half to death. With good reason. He’s intelligent, collaborative, and not even on the radar of lobbyists. That is, he’s on their radar now, but he’s not exactly on their Christmas-card lists.

So he has a plan.

And I think he can make it work. Read his whole presentation here, and share it if you feel inclined.

Full disclosure: I have mixed feelings about donating to out-of-state campaigns—I sure didn’t like what happened with Prop 8 in California last year—but Sean is doing more than running for office himself. He’s also pioneering methods for direct communication between voters and candidates, and urging transparency in campaign funding. And I happen to agree with a lot of what he’d work on if elected.

Whether or not you choose to get involved, keep an eye on Sean Tevis. He’s doing something wonderful.

Mark Bryan

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been troubled by the state of things.” That’s how Mark Bryan begins his artist statement. I read it after looking through a couple dozen images of his work, and it tied some things together for me.

Last of the Clowns

Bryan’s work spans politics, popular culture, social commentary, and quiet contemplation. He says he usually starts with a beautiful landscape but can’t leave it at that. His subjects are by turns funny and mischievous and troubling and destructive. He’s thoughtful and respectful, even loving, in his work, but not sentimental. He manages to understate even in bizarre pieces.

The originals of much of the work at his portfolio site have been sold, I am delighted to see. He also makes prints available. When I started this entry, I wanted to compare him to another painter I also love, but Bryan deserves his own entry. “Apart from all the trouble we cause ourselves, I believe we are immersed in a powerful and beautiful mystery,” he says. All the most observant realists are passionate romantics, too.