The phrase “God bless America” has permeated American public discourse since at least 1938, when Irving Berlin released a song by that title that was instantly hailed as a new national anthem. It has since become ubiquitous in political speeches and at sporting events, and has frequently been invoked at times of national crisis. A conceptual artist who often works with text, Alejandro Diaz presents the phrase as a neon sign, making a subtle alteration that, once detected, prompts reconsideration of the potential meaning of the words. The added, flickering “S” is a reminder, the artist says, “of the many religions practiced in the United States,” and beckons the viewer with the promise of equity and religious freedom.
- Title
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GODS BLESS AMERICA!
- Artist
- Date
- 2013
- Location
- Dimensions
- 9 × 120 1⁄8 × 3 1⁄4 in. (22.9 × 305.1 × 8.3 cm)
- Credit Line
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Smithsonian American Art Museum
Gift of Guillermo Nicolas and James Foster
- Mediums Description
- neon lighting
- Classifications
- Keywords
-
- Abstract
- Object Number
-
2016.3
- Palette
- Linked Open Data
- Linked Open Data URI
