Alejandro Diaz, born San Antonio, TX 1963 Search this
Medium:
neon lighting
Dimensions:
9 × 120 1/8 × 3 1/4 in. (22.9 × 305.1 × 8.3 cm)
Type:
Sculpture
Date:
2013
Gallery Label:
The phrase "God bless America" has permeated American public discourse since at least 1938, when Irving Berlin released a song by that title that was instantly hailed as a new national anthem. It has since become ubiquitous in political speeches and at sporting events, and has frequently been invoked at times of national crisis. A conceptual artist who often works with text, Alejandro Diaz presents the phrase as a neon sign, making a subtle alteration that, once detected, prompts reconsideration of the potential meaning of the words. The added, flickering "S" is a reminder, the artist says, "of the many religions practiced in the United States," and beckons the viewer with the promise of equity and religious freedom.
