Arnold Mesches uses a direct and outspoken type of art to present the work, Art
In Public Places I. He is an abstract expressionist who’s work has become less
literal in the past few years. Mesches started exhibiting in 1945 with the
support of his wife. Meshes has a very original way of making his work. He takes
a very famous painting, paints it on the canvas, then he blends over it by
scratching and scraping. Then he paints over the old one with one of his own.
Thus, creating a whole new painting. Art In Public Places I is a perfect example
of this. In the background he has placed the March of Liberty, a painting with
the Statue of Liberty and people marching. After blending and scratching that,
he placed two people being hung. There is much significance to these two people
because they are Mussolini and his mistress. Hanging upside down, and by their
feet, signifies that freedom has come because Mussolini is dead. Mesches also
shows that freedom is here to stay becuase of the Statue of Liberty, with all
the people around it. The statue has always been a sign of freedom, so when
Mesches placed this in the background, he knew exactly what he was doing.