3.19.2012

Contest Winner!!

I have to say, I am amazed at the insight so many of you showed as you deciphered this painting.  I have many subtleties hidden in this painting that have not been shared, but several of those were divulged in this Facebook contest.  I think I will wait longer before I validate some of them.  But, the contest’s purpose was to see who could be the first to hit at least four of the main symbols I was thinking of in the painting, “One Nation Under Socialism.”  As I expected, some of our liberal friends jumped on at the end and had a little fun mocking the painting.  I suppose it would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic. 
My thanks to everyone who took the time to enter the contest.

Jamie Fitzgibbons is our winner!  He wrote the following:

“1) the Constitution is crumbled up representing his blatant disregard for it and a lack of interest in preserving it. 2) pointing at the Constitution represents that he is acknowledging it is still the rule of law and he is telling the American people that he feels he isn't doing anything unconstitutional. 3) the Constitution is on fire representing our rights and liberties being destroyed under his administration. 4) He is not looking at the Constitution on fire which represents that he is either ignorant or deceitful about destroying our right and liberties.”

In addition to this he is covering the words, “United States of America.”  His color of tie has meaning and much, much, more…



15 comments:

  1. I think it is great that one of your fans will get a print of this painting. My only concern is wether the rest home will allow him/her to hang the picture up in their room.

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  2. "3) the Constitution is on fire representing our rights and liberties being destroyed under his administration"

    The complexity of your symbolism astounds me. Only the deepest of thinkers could ever catch such rich and hidden meanings in your paintings.

    Let me add 5) Obama is especially black in this painting represents that....

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  3. I am sorry I missed this contest! I didn't realize it was going on. I also noticed his expression of almost hatred and anger. He almost appears to have a glow, or halo, behind him as if he "thinks" he is God-like. It appears to me that there are symbols falling from the fire as well.

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  4. The real problem in this country is the great divide between political parties... images like this only prolong the unfortunate smear campaign that seems to have a strangle on our population.

    You may be a talented artist, McNaughton, but this disgusts me.

    ~ One of the Few Remaining Moderate Republicans

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    1. I was a Republican until about two months before the 2008 election. I voted for Obama and am certainly a Democrat now. You may have to become a Democrat.

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  5. Hmm. This president is wearing a red tie too:

    http://www.lds.org/images/Magazines/Ensign/Archive/ensignlp.nfo:o:211e.jpg

    and this one:

    http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,567-1-426-17,00.html

    and this one:

    http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/leaders/boyd-k-packer-10.jpg

    Of course, the fact that all of these men have worn red ties means essentially nothing, and condemns none of them. I have a red tie, and it's very likely that you too have a red tie. Red is a very common color for a tie, and is therefore a weak artistic symbol, at best.

    I think the whole idea of burning a document and scowling maybe a little too subtle too. Maybe next time you should write the intended meaning right on the painting... oh wait, that's what you did for this one.

    Ok, well, then maybe next time you should drop the whole notion of hating Americans who disagree with you and try to be part of a solution that works for all Americans instead of part of the problem that divides Americans against each other. Good luck with that.

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  6. Wow, President Obama's tie in this painting is the exact same tie that President Monson is wearing in the recent painting of the First Presidency! http://static.deseretnews.com/media/img/misc/about-lds/mormon-leaders.jpg
    So what does it represent when President Obama wears it?

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  7. Mr. McNaughton, putting the political extremism of your paintings aside (and the obvious priestcraft angle which concerns a lot of Mormons but might not bother your Evangelical Christian fans) allow me to say that one thing that is irritating about your approach in your paintings is that the things you claim are symbols or symbolic in your paintings are not actually symbols or symbolic at all. They are just straightforward representations.

    For instance, in your original post here you highlight a Facebook commenter's attempt to name the four "symbols" he found in the painting and you ratified those as being correct. None of those are really symbols at all. The Constitution being crumpled up is not any kind of deep symbol -- it is a common cliché to speak of crumpling something up if you do not value it or mean to neglect it. Similarly, the Constitution burning is the Constitution burning. The meaning of that is obvious -- it isn't symbolic.

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  8. Some people chose not to see further than their nose, or some have blinders on, then some have their head stuck in the sand saying, "all is well in Zion!"
    Just like the people who say that the Holocaust did not happen even with al the proof right in front of their nose.
    What so the people say about the real photo of Obama with his hands on his crotch and his nose in the air while The National Anthem is being played. How did a man like that get to be President of this Greatest Country on earth? Heaven help us!
    Then of course speak for yourself even as a Mormon, but please do not speak for me as a US citizen and a Mormon I can speak for myself, and I think the painting is an eye opener!

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  9. LOL...Evan above writes: "The real problem in this country is the great divide between political parties... images like this only prolong the unfortunate smear campaign that seems to have a strangle on our population.

    You may be a talented artist, McNaughton, but this disgusts me.

    ~ One of the Few Remaining Moderate Republicans"

    ROTFLMAO!
    The trouble with this country is the American Electorate dumbed down by decades of liberalism imparted into the skull of our yoots in public schools.

    Obama's election is actually an attack on America!
    This art work is a national treasure.
    I hope the liberals get upset just like the muslims do.

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  10. Thank you for this painting and your others.
    I enjoy trying to get your hidden points.

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  11. I see the word "HELL" written in the fire that consumes the Constitution. Or am I imagining it?

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  12. About as subtle as a chainsaw. Politics aside, this is dreadful art.

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  13. As many hidden symbolisms as a michael bay movie

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