SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
UP FRONT
I hope you are all doing well.
We received many FEEDBACK submissions regarding the July/August SPOTLIGHT...
Memorable Television Commercials. It's nice to know that my opinions on the differences
between the commercials of today and those of the past are quite common. Maybe if advertisers
and their agencies listened to intelligent television viewers like us, today's commercials would
improve.
One of the original principles behind Artists Are Always Right was to avoid talking about politics.
Because of this, I have never once mentioned politicians or political parties by name in any issue.
As far as I'm concerned, there is already more than enough negative political division in the world
today. Art, on the other hand, can be both positive and unifying...and while opinions on specific
works of art may vary, artists and art aficionados are able to agree to disagree more easily than
it would appear that people are able to do when it comes to politics.
We received many FEEDBACK submissions regarding the July/August SPOTLIGHT...
Memorable Television Commercials. It's nice to know that my opinions on the differences
between the commercials of today and those of the past are quite common. Maybe if advertisers
and their agencies listened to intelligent television viewers like us, today's commercials would
improve.
One of the original principles behind Artists Are Always Right was to avoid talking about politics.
Because of this, I have never once mentioned politicians or political parties by name in any issue.
As far as I'm concerned, there is already more than enough negative political division in the world
today. Art, on the other hand, can be both positive and unifying...and while opinions on specific
works of art may vary, artists and art aficionados are able to agree to disagree more easily than
it would appear that people are able to do when it comes to politics.
My "no politics" policy, however, doesn't preclude me from mentioning the election that will soon be upon us. After all, it seems as
if everyone else on the planet is talking about it! Perhaps that's because no other election in the history of the United States will
more significantly determine the direction the country will go. And since America is so powerful internationally, the outcome will
also affect, in one way or another, every other nation on Earth as well. Therefore, it is crucial that every eligible, legal United States
citizen exercise their constitutional right to vote! Keep in mind that this is a cherished right that many people living in other countries
do not have.
From a metaphorical point of view, a political election is a lot like the dawn of a new day. There's no way to know for certain how
the eventual outcome of either will play out. With this in mind, the SPOTLIGHT in this issue features an image I created at the break
of a new day. In other words...By The Dawn's Early Light. While some readers might consider this SPOTLIGHT to be another in
my Inside The Image series...and in a sense it is...I see it as being much more than that philosophically.
Lastly...it is impossible for me to think of a more iconic, artistic design, than the flag of the United States of America. As an
American who is fully aware of what this symbol of freedom represents, I am proud to feature it on THE FRONT PAGE. Just seeing
Old Glory brings to my mind the first line in the national anthem...O! Say can you see by the dawn's early light. This connection to
the SPOTLIGHT was not only intentional on my part, but in my opinion, most appropriate.
Until we connect again…
Douglas Schwartz, Publisher and Editor
if everyone else on the planet is talking about it! Perhaps that's because no other election in the history of the United States will
more significantly determine the direction the country will go. And since America is so powerful internationally, the outcome will
also affect, in one way or another, every other nation on Earth as well. Therefore, it is crucial that every eligible, legal United States
citizen exercise their constitutional right to vote! Keep in mind that this is a cherished right that many people living in other countries
do not have.
From a metaphorical point of view, a political election is a lot like the dawn of a new day. There's no way to know for certain how
the eventual outcome of either will play out. With this in mind, the SPOTLIGHT in this issue features an image I created at the break
of a new day. In other words...By The Dawn's Early Light. While some readers might consider this SPOTLIGHT to be another in
my Inside The Image series...and in a sense it is...I see it as being much more than that philosophically.
Lastly...it is impossible for me to think of a more iconic, artistic design, than the flag of the United States of America. As an
American who is fully aware of what this symbol of freedom represents, I am proud to feature it on THE FRONT PAGE. Just seeing
Old Glory brings to my mind the first line in the national anthem...O! Say can you see by the dawn's early light. This connection to
the SPOTLIGHT was not only intentional on my part, but in my opinion, most appropriate.
Until we connect again…
Douglas Schwartz, Publisher and Editor
