The End of Innocence

Look into the picture and tell me what you see?

This painting entitled Innocence is the work of Fil-Am painter Fred DeAsis currently on exhibit at the Arlington Heights Heritage Museum until January 2008 in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Illinois.

The artist and the museum are now embroiled in controversy after so-called “members of religious- rightist group” asked the museum to shut down the exhibit because they are against the said art work and its message.

The artist said that Innocence is “supposed to describe the pain and isolation of child and spousal abuse”and I can’t understand for the life of me the logic behind the uproar with some people going to the extent of calling the painting, “totally disgusting and shameful.”

As for me it is just the product of the artist’s perception and imagery of the subject and nothing more. It is not even a great painting if we follow the usual standard but it is in no way near the description that some people have hurled at the art work.

From the way I see it and by looking at the demographics of Arlington Heights, it is just a sorry and malicious attempt to discredit the artist perpetrated by some uneducated people, bigots actually whose beliefs are tainted by the biases that they harbor for other races even in this day and age.

Yes, people like these are still quite prevalent in many backwater villages in Uncle Sam‘s America.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Arlington Heights, your behavior in this case is not only revolting but “TOTALLY DISGUSTING AND SHAMEFUL” as well.