text: Free For All. - Freethinkers Anonymous
  Freethinkers Anonymous > American Graffiti. > Free For All.
  Author: Christopher Waldrop March 17, 2018 4 Comments
  "I really thought if I ever learned to draw properly I would try to change the world for the better."
  –Ralph Steadman
  I first saw this mural in Cincinnati from a moving car, which is funny because I don't know where to start with it. In fact I was so excited when I saw it I almost jumped out of the car, and that was before I realized it was by Ralph Steadman. Steadman is best known for his work with Hunter S. Thompson, a long collaboration that began with Steadman providing illustrations for The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved. Steadman's slapdash style looks decadent and depraved, at least from a distance, but up close is exquisitely detailed. He combines accidents and precision, an interesting contradiction given that Steadman himself seems very contradictory. His art is often brutal and angry, raging at state of the world, and yet he also does commercial work. You may not be able to buy an original painting by him–he's really very reluctant to sell his work and has said, "If anyone owns an original Steadman it's stolen"–but copies are cheap and easy to find.
  Among other things he's done the labels for Flying Dog beer, and it's not surprising that when my friend James, who was driving the car I'd later almost jump out of, and I were perusing the beer aisle of a store I pointed some out to him. He's lucky he can find Flying Dog beers since they're no longer available in Tennessee, and I once drove a really long way to find some. Then I sent them an e-mail describing my ordeal and got a really nice reply and they sent me a t-shirt, but that's another story. He's also a prolific author of numerous books.
  As for the mural, it is an original Steadman.
  Who owns it, though, or if it's really owned by anyone, is another question. Public murals are contradictory in themselves: they're commissioned and approved and an artist gets paid but once done they belong to everyone who happens to pass by. You don't have to go into a gallery or museum; most of the time if you see a public mural it's an accident, but hopefully an accident that makes your world a little better.
  This reminds me of that great quote from Winston Churchill, "Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
  Stays Quizzical In Milk.
  Ann Koplow March 18, 2018 at 09:26
  There are so many good reasons to visit your blog, Chris. Thanks for making it free for all.
  Christopher Waldrop (Post author) March 25, 2018 at 14:31
  Your regular visits here are why I'm glad to keep this blog open to everyone.
  Jay March 21, 2018 at 17:12
  And now I needn't even drive by it myself!
  Christopher Waldrop (Post author) March 25, 2018 at 14:36
  Maybe you don't need to drive by it but if you ever do go through that way in Cincinnati take a little time to look around. There are a lot of public murals there and I can't wait to go back and get pictures of more.