Act Like Nothing's Wrong: The Montage Art of Winston Smith

Rating:
Summary: Some Of The Coolest Sardonic Pop-Images From The 80s
Review: "Montage art is like instant surrealism. If Dr. Frankenstein had worked with paper instead of body parts, he'd have been a collage artist. I use a scalpel, but instead of stitches I use glue." ---Winston Smith, page 22 in "Act Like Nothing's Wrong."

Odds are you have seen Winston Smith's collage art. If you never perused the insane Winston Smith creations on Dead Kennedys' album covers (not to mention the infamous Dead Kennedys' DK logo), you have probably ran across his sweetly twisted magazine art collages somewhere in the media. Chances are you may have seen an image like "Force Fed War" (Mom nursing baby with a fighter aircraft instead of a bottle) or the various Reagan-Ridiculing collages. And there's a good chance you associate these collages with Jello Biafra and The Dead Kennedys, but have never actually heard the name of the creator, Winston Smith.

My case exactly. The Dead Kennedys collage art that stayed cemented in my mind was "The Money Tree" (page 26 in this collection), a collage of exuberant aging suburbanites, dressed in their weekend leisure slacks, harvesting dollar bills from a tree in their backyard. I always found that image simultaneously drop-dead funny and creepy, like a weird scene from a nightmare you had as a child. Eager to find that image again, I did the various web searches to find out what inspired mind came up with these freaky slices of life, and came across these books by Winston Smith.

I expected this book to be a funny collection of pop-art. This book goes way beyond my expectations. Not only are there scores of hysterical collages lambasting the seedy nature behind the nuclear family's jubilant appearance, but you have written commentary by Smith, who delivers a keen and serious attack on modern American society. The combination of his visual wit and his heartfelt criticism of the government (he focuses on our government, but does not let other monolithic empires like China and the former USSR off the hook) drive this work home. This makes for an unlikely but effective mix of wit and condemnation.

It's really strange. I usually can't stand the artistic coffee-house malcontents who drone on and on about the tragedies of consumerism, sell-outs, and suburbia. I find the majority of those I have met to be self-serving critics who will cry over societal ironies, but only to come off as cool and bohemian.

Winston Smith is one major exception to the rule. As I read his commentaries, he probably would take me to task for writing off the angry neo-artists. He would probably also take me to task for being shallow enough to enjoy the fruits of popular TV & media. So.... what is it I find different about Mr. Smith? As I read his quotes, I envision a guy who can find gloom and pathos in modern America, and then tell its story by cutting & pasting magazine illustrations with childlike enthusiasm. Maybe I'm misreading Winston Smith, but I see this energetic workhorse who sees the empire crumbling into oblivion and instead of sobbing over it, he's going to play his fiddle louder, harder, and with sheer reckless abandon.

I love this book. And so should you! Give it a shot.

Rating:
Summary: Some Of The Coolest Sardonic Pop-Images From The 80s
Review: "Montage art is like instant surrealism. If Dr. Frankenstein had worked with paper instead of body parts, he'd have been a collage artist. I use a scalpel, but instead of stitches I use glue." ---Winston Smith, page 22 in "Act Like Nothing's Wrong."

Odds are you have seen Winston Smith's collage art. If you never perused the insane Winston Smith creations on Dead Kennedys' album covers (not to mention the infamous Dead Kennedys' DK logo), you have probably ran across his sweetly twisted magazine art collages somewhere in the media. Chances are you may have seen an image like "Force Fed War" (Mom nursing baby with a fighter aircraft instead of a bottle) or the various Reagan-Ridiculing collages. And there's a good chance you associate these collages with Jello Biafra and The Dead Kennedys, but have never actually heard the name of the creator, Winston Smith.

My case exactly. The Dead Kennedys collage art that stayed cemented in my mind was "The Money Tree" (page 26 in this collection), a collage of exuberant aging suburbanites, dressed in their weekend leisure slacks, harvesting dollar bills from a tree in their backyard. I always found that image simultaneously drop-dead funny and creepy, like a weird scene from a nightmare you had as a child. Eager to find that image again, I did the various web searches to find out what inspired mind came up with these freaky slices of life, and came across these books by Winston Smith.

I expected this book to be a funny collection of pop-art. This book goes way beyond my expectations. Not only are there scores of hysterical collages lambasting the seedy nature behind the nuclear family's jubilant appearance, but you have written commentary by Smith, who delivers a keen and serious attack on modern American society. The combination of his visual wit and his heartfelt criticism of the government (he focuses on our government, but does not let other monolithic empires like China and the former USSR off the hook) drive this work home. This makes for an unlikely but effective mix of wit and condemnation.

It's really strange. I usually can't stand the artistic coffee-house malcontents who drone on and on about the tragedies of consumerism, sell-outs, and suburbia. I find the majority of those I have met to be self-serving critics who will cry over societal ironies, but only to come off as cool and bohemian.

Winston Smith is one major exception to the rule. As I read his commentaries, he probably would take me to task for writing off the angry neo-artists. He would probably also take me to task for being shallow enough to enjoy the fruits of popular TV & media. So.... what is it I find different about Mr. Smith? As I read his quotes, I envision a guy who can find gloom and pathos in modern America, and then tell its story by cutting & pasting magazine illustrations with childlike enthusiasm. Maybe I'm misreading Winston Smith, but I see this energetic workhorse who sees the empire crumbling into oblivion and instead of sobbing over it, he's going to play his fiddle louder, harder, and with sheer reckless abandon.

I love this book. And so should you! Give it a shot.

Rating:
Summary: Art Crimes produced for the likes of DKs, D.O.A., etc..
Review: Lots of these images were used for posters and album covers for Punk Rock bands such as DEAD KENNEDYS, D.O.A., NOMEANSNO, etc. Volume Two is in the works right now: "BEEN WRONG SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT TO ME" due out by November 1997. This one will include my cover art for GREEN DAY's album "Insomniac" and numerous other examples of artistic anarchy plus a foreword by Jello Biafra. Life is Art, Art is Life. Beat yer rug, not your wife. Cheers! Winsto

Rating:
Summary: Excellent mockery and re-depiction of American Culture
Review: Smith, named after the fictional character from Orwell's 1984, has produced collage and montage artwork for the past 20 years, utilizing stolen and "borrowed" photographs from innumerable sources. He has produced much of his art using an exacto knife and a color photocopier alone. His work is definitely not for the faint of heart, though I would recommend to anyone flipping through here

Rating:
Summary: A punch in the face...
Review: These are some of the most thought-provoking, intelligent, and frighteining pieces of art I have ever viewed. Winston is a genius, with his art and the opinion pieces throughout the book. I found this book through Dead Kennedys and Jello Biafra album covers and I'm glad I did. The book is amazing. I think my favorite is the all-time classic 'Idol,' or as most know as the cover to the DKs 'In God We Trust Inc.' The intricate little drawings on the dollar bills, and the UPC above jesus really do pack a hell of a punch. I also love 'Turkeys' "Mowing Down the People' 'Force Fed War' and the Alternative Tentacles logo, of course. ALl of them rock, and some can get you thinking for hours. Winston Smith is a remarkable artist, and I think I'm gonna got out and buy his other books!

Rating:
Summary: Winston has renewed my love for art!!
Review: Turning the pages of this book I can't help but create my own ideas on how this government of ours really works. Winston hits on so many issues prevalent in today's society, with work he has been doing for years. I am so glad I picked up this book after reading his name in the credit part of all my Dead Kennedys albums. Winston's book is absolutely brilliant. And the new one will be well appreciated.

Rating:
Summary: Winston has renewed my love for art!!
Review: Turning the pages of this book I can't help but create my own ideas on how this government of ours really works. Winston hits on so many issues prevalent in today's society, with work he has been doing for years. I am so glad I picked up this book after reading his name in the credit part of all my Dead Kennedys albums. Winston's book is absolutely brilliant. And the new one will be well appreciated.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: Winston has captured the corruption of every-day life in collage art. He has a genius mind that takes what we try and say and puts it in the bluntest image.