Joe Wirtheim in his studio.
(Courtesy photo.)
This week, I'm thrilled to bring to you a two-part virtual interview with artist Joe Wirtheim of the Victory Garden of Tomorrow. As mentioned here previously, some of his artwork is in my home.
Joe: The idea just arrived in 2005 after months of reading, thinking, talking, doodling. I kept asking a basic question "Why is my neighborhood and my economy the way it is?" Now, I didn't take this on like a heavy academic research question - I followed it by just going to the things that inspired me and learning about them, following my intuition around. I went to historical museums, I went to the library, I went online finding university history class readings that were available, I looked at contemporary poster artists. I just looked, thought, talked about it to those around me.
I finally settled onto two events that inspired me in a big way: the World's Fair of 1939, and of course the Victory Garden campaigns of the 1940s. Both happened at the end of the Great Depression, a turning point in American history.
In my imagination, I saw them as two possible American futures: the "Aspiring Industrial Life," and the "Hardworking, Do Your Part" America. We basically took the industrial path at that post-war moment. People were greatly fatigued at the time from depression and war, who could blame them?
I decided to revive the messaging of the "Do Your Part" America that I feel is reviving itself today. But using the imagination of the World's Fair and all its "the world of tomorrow" excitement. Hence, the "Victory Garden of Tomorrow."
RW&G: What kind of research did you undertake to create the artwork? And, in addition to vintage posters, what are the other inspirations for the series?
Joe: Research has been important, but for me it mostly involved looking at many poster images, and doing some reading about the WWII homefront efforts. I was very inspired by The War by Ken Burns this year. Great stories from real people. They all had a great sense of camaraderie in what they were doing--they had the sense that so much was on the line.
Today, I don't want to come off as uninformed, and really I want this artwork to kind of pick up where those messages from the 1940s left off. I've looked at a lot of posters from the war-era homefront and the WPA era. They had posters in munitions factories basically saying "our tools are fighting", at the big shipyards saying "Loose Lips Sink Ships", in the neighborhoods asking "Are You doing Your Part to Salvage?", and, of course, "Our Food is Fighting, Don't Waste It". Those are just some of the broad ideas, but it seemed they all were actively talking to the viewer and demanding their effort. How inspiring is that? Today, that kind of message is rarely seen, even from the Ad Council.
Within the context of a great war effort, these kind of "rallying the people" type of messages probably had an effect. But I also realize that at the time, people wanted very much to do their part. Those at home heard the news of the fighting, and for them it was scary. Nobody had to be sold into growing a garden back then--like a seed on fertile ground, the idea grew roots quickly.
RW&G: What role do you envision your work playing in propagating the Victory Garden concept?
Joe: Today, it does feel like the ground is fertile again. We can now discuss things that have been non-starters before (like the environment). Young people especially are excited about "doing their part" once again. Rather than withdrawing from society and its problems, so many people are ready to actively re-build farms, economies, neighborhoods. Its really amazing the things I hear from folks in their 20s and 30s, and many older people, too, listening and getting involved in community development, new agriculture models, even getting back into craftsmanship. I want to support those who are ready to do something.
I enjoy hearing from the leading thinkers in the "sustainable" design movement. People like Bill McDonough, Tony Frey, Al Gore, or even the writer James Kunstler and many others. As I listen to their ideas, which can be pretty far out, I keep thinking about the transformation that needs to take place in the public dialogue and the public attitude.
I suppose my intention is to take those ideas and get the public talking, thinking about what they themselves can do. The posters are like conversation starters for folks to have in their homes. Eventually those conversations could build camaraderie and a sense of purpose again.
Another thing, to me a "Victory Garden of Tomorrow" isn't just about a garden--it's a city rooftop garden, its riding bikes, its reusing, its building community. There's so much to do!
More of my interview with Joe tomorrow...until then, be sure to check out the previous profiles.
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