HISTORY AND ART COLLIDE WITH THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLAGE OF THE 16TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ABRAHAM LINCOLN
[LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865), subject]. MESZAROS, Jeffrey Adam, artist. Abraham Lincoln Original Collage. 54 x 36". Using damaged and incomplete Civil War era materials from the Eric C. Caren Collection and Caren Archive, artist Jeffrey Adam Meszaros meticulously identified and assembled specific articles, images, and advertisements to create not only a portrait of the beloved President - in doing so, he also painted a picture of the social, political, and wartime landscapes that Lincoln oversaw. Within the portrait can be found stories of slaves and slaveholders, images of battles being fought, and even the assassination and subsequent funeral of President Lincoln. The power of media is on full display and it is woven directly into the visage of the President; its ability to influence public opinion should serve as a reminder of the ongoing significance of media in shaping collective consciousness. Despite the vast differences that can be gleaned from these documents of eight score ago, there are countless parallels to the narratives that are being put forth in today’s society as they continue to shape our understanding of politics, history, and culture. This art piece is not just of history - it is history.
Up-and-coming artist Jeffrey Adam Meszaros is well known for his portraits and nature-inspired pieces made out of discarded materials - principally bottle caps and wine corks. Having original works sold to a long list of private collectors and acclaimed professional sports teams across three continents, Jeff is at the forefront of the reclaimed art movement. His inimitable style has been developed over the last 17 years and he’s now broadening his artistic horizon by forming a partnership with Eric C. Caren and his archive of American history dating back as far as 500 years. The rare, damaged, and incomplete materials of the Eric C. Caren Collection and Jeff’s proven artistic ability set the stage to create unquestionably unique pieces of art which are sure to turn heads of historians and art lovers alike.