Color Bush bad Matt Welch opens his palette to politics BY MAGGIE KNOWLES

These days it is easy to let politics seep into all aspects of life. Writers, poets, musicians, and painters use it like a dirty muse, braiding unrequited love with uncounted votes. This habit is expected from liberal die-hards Sheryl Crow and Michael Moore, yet I am surprised that Matt Welch has political threads dangling from his current running with scissors show, Party on 2005. You most likely know Welch from his giant colorful cow portraits and landscapes made from lipstick tubes and electrical outlets. His prior work has been fun and light — not much to ponder beyond the canvas. But something has lately sparked him to paint with more intensity and depth.

In a nod to Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup can, Welch’s six cans teeter between whimsical and political — he is testing the controversial waters for the first time here. Painted with his expected brilliant palette, one blue-and-white can reads "Portland Police Soup" and "protect and serve" where it usually says "heat and serve." Another is "Top Secret Government Soup," with most of the label blacked out. Not appealing to your appetite? Try the "True Love" or "Art Soup."

As he felt more comfortable exposing his political brush, he created "Lone Bomb State I and II." Mimicking the Texan state flag, there is a bomb where the star should be. The paint is thrown on in chunky, hostile patches like layers of lies. Beneath the small flags are quotes pulled from the current administration: Bush’s "I am not going to negotiate with myself!," and Condi Rice’s statement during the recent Congressional testimony, "I believe the title was, ‘Bin Laden determined to attack inside the US.’." Welch pastes the words on a board then attaches shotgun shells, which jump out with the ferocity of a pit bull.

Even bolder than the small Texan flags is a giant Jasper Johns-ish American flag, bombs replacing the stars. The bombs, however, confuse some. Are they Jesus fish? Are they wrapped hard candies . . . condoms? The bubble-gum-colored bombs can be read as different objects. He intentionally clouds the sky here, as if to not fully express his intention . . . as if to not tamper too much with the viewer’s own political stance.

On the flip side of Americana, next to the flag, hangs a cropped Red Sox hat. The lilac "B" reclines against the lipstick-red cap. The use of light-purple here softens the whole game. Instead of screaming "Yankees Suck!!!!!" this cap would murmur, "The Yankees are just really not that nice." Instead of being sold, this piece is being raffled off, the proceeds donated to a tsunami disaster fund.

Somewhere in the middle of his collection, Welch decides bar codes haven’t had their share of artistic limelight. "ME Cash Refund" and "5-cent Deposit" are done in a very pop style. Florida-hued greens and pinks back the freehand lines. If you look closely you can see the little tremors he gets when concentrating on painting in a straight line. Painted on a blue sky, puffy white clouds float behind "ME Cash Refund," reminding us to recycle after ingesting liquid sugar.

Welch also includes many works that capture his love of nature and color. A gorgeous yellow (which now seems to be his color of choice) painting of roses hangs in the front window. He calls it "Walter’s Garden," a nod to the Kinks song. The velvety petals are lined with persimmon, inviting you to nuzzle into the fragrant blooms. But it isn’t girly. He manages to add a bit of darkness and masculinity for balance. His "Cider House Bound" focuses on the stem growing from an apple. It looks more like a pumpkin, but he assures it’s an apple. Welch again uses pale yellows, the tan stem explodes with vine-like motion into a lilac sky; the leaves sneak their fingers beyond the canvas.

Speaking of sneaking, remember when you used to tromp about in your mom’s or dad’s favorite shoes (I used to call them my dad’s boogie shoes) until the dog warned of their return? "Black Wheels" is an ode to this sweet memory. Very skinny, pale legs try to stay upright as they scoot around the house in Pop’s footwear. Oversized pink-striped socks bunch around the ankles, slipping inside the gigantic black shoes. Her little toes float somewhere in the middle of the leather, inches of air from heel to toe pad her way.

Matt Welch is a superb artist. He is so in love with color and its possibilities that it is evident in every piece, regardless of subject. Often, artists find the need to one day go deeper within their work — here Welch did that by exploring his anger toward the current administration/situation. But for those who are familiar with his past work, he seems to be holding back as if he isn’t quite sure how to separate controversy from cows. His strongest work is still centered on nature and there are plenty of new and solid works for you to enjoy.

Maggie Knowles can be reached at margaretknowles@yahoo.com

"Party On," paintings by Matt Welch, shows through Jan. 28 at running with scissors. Call the gallery for an appointment at (207) 780-6252, or call the artist at (207) 939-5854.