Charles Gaines (B. 1944)

The politically inclined nature of Charles Gaines’ work is evident in the diptych Explosion #17. One image is comprised of a meticulously hand-rendered depiction of a nuclear bomb explosion, resulting in a mushroom cloud that drifts beyond the bounds of the picture plane. This drawing is paired with a fragment of text that chronicles the circumstances behind the Spanish-American War. The coupling of these two drawings suggests a corollary between that historical moment and the present.