Justice, Freedom, Liberty, & Fragility

acrylic on canvas | 30”x24”

by brandee watters

This was painted while listening to the news coverage of the domestic terror attack on January 6, 2021. brandee has said that in her anger, it felt like the only useful thing to do.

She started her morning off with coffee and Atwood.

“You must feel pretty ripped off. I guess It’s not the first time.
If I were You I’d be fed up. I’d really be sick of it. I guess that’s the difference between us.
I feel very unreal, talking to You like this. I feel as if I’m talking to a wall. I wish You’d answer. I feel so alone.
All alone by the telephone. Except I can’t use the telephone. And if I could, who could I call?
Oh God. It’s no joke. Oh God oh God. How can I keep on living?”

— The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

And just after that quote, in brandee’s copy of The Handmaid’s Tale she wrote, “Reading this on Jan. 6th 2021 when Trump domestic terrorists stormed the National Mall. I am stunned at the parallels here. I am fearful for the state of the country. Please let us resume a peaceful, democratic process.” After leaving her feelings securely within the pages of the novel, she made the decision to pour her negative emotions into a canvas. Pouring anger and frustration out with black, white, and red paints. At times it felt better to abandon her brush and instead use her fingers to create the capitol.

The women in the foreground were the last on the scene. Rather than painting the Statue of Freedom atop the capitol, brandee depicted her huddling together with Ladies Justice and Liberty. The scales askew. The torch dropped behind them, threatening to light the whole place ablaze.

“Death is a beautiful woman, with wings and one breast almost bare; or is that Victory? I can’t remember,” (Atwood 166).

Justice, Freedom, Liberty, & Fragility

acrylic on canvas | 30”x24”

by brandee watters

Sister Simulacrum