The Meaning of Christmas 2006
December 19, 2006

     The Gilmore Annual Christmas Card is an anticipated event, and at 25 years, a coveted tradition.  It is often a commentary of the times in which we live as reflected by an event of the past year.  The reaction and interpretation of recipient's is an insight into the power of conceptual art.  It is also a harbinger of its limitations as inevitably what apparently matters more is not one's own insights, but the thrill of the hunt one associates with killing the question "What did Todd mean?"
     Contemplation is the nemesis of what passes for visual stimuli in the times in which we live.  Don't understand?  Change the channel.  Understand?  Change the channel.  Why rejoice in self awareness when what matters is the security of our consensual cocoons?
     Accordingly, the kill.  Behind the surface lies a shocking x-ray of the State of our Union. Merry Christmas.

 

 

        

 

From Salon.com:

 

 

     A detainee nicknamed "Gilligan" stands hooded on a box.  Testimony of Spc. Sabrina Harman to military investigators on January 15, 2004:  "I put wires on his hand.  I do not recall how.  I was joking with him and told him if he fell off, he would get electrocuted."