One of my favorite parts about putting up shows is what I call the “Question Book.” It’s very like a plain old comment book in form, but nothing like it in substance. I fill my Question Book with questions about the concepts surrounding the exhibition and hope that viewers will share their answers.
The Question Book for Apple Pie gathered some especially thought-provoking responses and these are just some of them…
What is your American dream? Are you living it right now or on your way to living it?
“To be worth 1 million dollars. I am--in the negative.”
“As yet unknown--but I know I get to choose it, create it. Yes.”
“To have enough money to buy my dream, and own a vineyard someday so I can drink and be happy with friends and family around the table. Yes.”
“To move to another country.”
“A safe comfortable home for my family where my friends can gather while we talk about our next plan to help some other folks. Yes and yes.”
“To be part of the earth, the larger world. Yes.”
What does it mean to be American?
“Fight for the dream, bleed for it, cry for it, to demand it, hope I can embody it.”
“To stand up for yourself.”
(This is the question I asked of all of the subjects of the series. To read their answers, visit the Apple Pie gallery and click on their thumbnail images.)
How do you feel about the illegal immigration problem?
“Laws should be followed and enforced.”
“Repulsed that we label people ‘illegal’ (not in your question).”
“Bring them all over! We are all immigrants. Kick out the bigots.”
“Problem?”
“Solve the il/legality problem--let people be people.”
“All are welcome.”
How would you feel about upping our immigrant quotas and therefore allowing more legal immigrants into the country?
“Approve.”
“In favor.”
“Yes we can!”
“This is not a country that responds well to limits.”
“It’s a start.”
“Yes.”
How do you participate in the making of America?
“I served 5 and a half years in the military--WWII and Korea.”
“Voting for President every 4 years.”
“I vote (and I teach...)”
“I vote. I role-model peacefulness, I volunteer in the arts, I travel with an open mind.”
What’s up, doc?
“Silly expression used by Hollywood.”
“The rent. But I’m not paying.”
“Gas prices.”
“Hope.”
Do you have a crush on Superman?
“No.”
“Pff!”
“No longer.”
“Who doesn’t?”
“Batman.”
“Actually, I wanted to be Superman when I was a little girl!”
“Clark Kent.”
Are you a misfit? A rebel? A blacksheep? A loner?
“No.”
“All on the above. Go me!”
“None of the above.”
“Have I had my coffee yet?”
“‘Ducks go together. Eagles fly alone.’ -Sukarno”
“Yes!”
Have you ever declared that if X happens you’ll emigrate to Canada?
“Never.”
“Ridiculous.”
“Never.”
“Never!”
“Nope.”
“Only when tipsy.”
“Only in my heart.”
What is a quintessentially American brand?
“Model T Car.”
“Coca-Cola (which I never drink, but I remember seeing it in bright lights in West Berlin when I was visiting East Berlin as a teenager in ‘63).”
“Levi.”
“The Gap.”
“Ford.”
“McDonalds.”
“Peanut butter.”
“The Swoosh.”
What is a quintessentially American item of clothing?
“A hardhat.”
“Jeans.”
“Sexy knickers under grubby work pants.”
“G-string.”
“Push-up bra.”
“Baseball hat.”
“Denim jeans.”
What is a quintessentially American pastime?
“Beer drinking.”
“Watching TV.”
“Barbecue.”
“Idea of doing nothing and it having to be ‘something.’”
“Bitching about traffic.”
“Baseball.”
“Reality TV.”
“Jesus.”
“Driving.”
What does the quintessential American look like?
“John Wayne and/or Laura Bush.”
“Overweight, I’m afraid.”
“Me.”
“Confident.”
“Superman.”
“Don’t know if there is such a thing.”
This rocks Gwenn! Keep doing this sort of thing, please!