Tarring and feathering was a form of public humiliation and a type of mob vengeance used in feudal Europe and on the American frontier, and Critchley’s project prompts people to think about who is on the receiving end of the custom in the current political climate.
PROVINCETOWN — Shoulder-season tourists walking along Commercial Street on Friday afternoon got a peek at artist Jay Critchley’s latest exhibit — a 7½-foot tall reimagining of the White House made with black canvas and covered in feathers.
Under an awning at Bubala’s By the Bay, Critchley was adding final touches to the Whiteness House — his vision of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. — which he hopes will prompt people to think about race and the politicization of all branches of the government under the current administration.
“Our nation’s home has taken on an ominous presence with a white president who has defined much of his presidency based on color,” Critchley said in promos for the outdoor installation, which will be running til Oct. 25. “How white is a Whiteness House after a black president? How does a white house express its whiteness?”
The idea came about three years ago, when Critchley, an activist in town known for his work focusing on the environment and other issues, began to explore his own whiteness at a fellowship in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
He hopes people passing by and those who went into the exhibit would think about what’s happening in the country.
“After the last presidential election, it really became clear to me what the real issues are, which is a threat to our democracy and racism,” Critchley said.
Tarring and feathering was a form of public humiliation and a type of mob vengeance used in feudal Europe and on the American frontier, and Critchley’s project prompts people to think about who is on the receiving end of the custom in the current political climate.
“Who is tar and feathering whom?” Critchley asked during an interview Friday. “Is it the present resident of the White House who is tarring and feathering the American people? Are we allowing him to tar and feather democracy?”
The public is invited to enter the sculpture from noon to 3 p.m. each day of the installation. Inside the Whiteness House, visitors can write down something they wish to purge from their lives and drop the note it into a shredder. The flypaper on the ceiling took on an unexpected new relevance after the vice presidential debate.
Because of the pandemic, people are asked to sign up for time slots to see the installation. Masks and social distancing will be required. There will be small performances at the exhibit, which will be lit up nightly.
Critchley thinks the piece has taken on deeper meaning since it was first designed three years ago, especially with the looming election.
“We desperately need a new occupant of the Whiteness House — to at least stop the hemorrhaging of the government and the politicization of every branch of government,” he said. “And really, I guess one of the saddest things for me, is just the environmental regulations that have been deleted.”
Follow Ethan Genter on Twitter: @EthanGenterCCT.
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