“Father” 2002
This piece began as an investigation of my fathers world. James Dawson Little was a Navy seal. He was part of America’s “Greatest Generation” back from World War 2, returning to a normal life soaked in alcohol and the hubris of the American dream. As I finished “Father”, it became clear that it had many other connections: This is also a “political” head like that of: John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and/or George Bush. It incorporates all the prominent features from the image or appearance of these talking heads but it is absent ALL the functional parts. There is no brain, no tongue, no eyes, and no neck or body. It is blown up, outsized and empty, like a cicada shell. It is either asleep and resting, or it is broken or decapitated.It has echoes of Brancusi’s Sleeping Muse, as well as echoeing all those large fragments of sculptures found in the courtyards and ruins of Rome.
Then my own content or intent can be hijacked by history or current events, like American journalists who are beheaded by Taliban fighters on a live internet video feed. That was not a meaning I had in mind.
By the way I really chose the title “Father” from my materials. The $1 bill has a picture of George Washington (father of our country) on it.
Ken Little 2002
