Cindy Tower’s Covid-19 Hallucination Garden pays homage to the role of signage in contemporary political critique, particularly honing in on criticism towards the current Trump administration and like-minded government officials. Tower’s Garden blooms with mixed-media sculptures that fearlessly condemn the actions of Trump and his assembly in response to the pandemic. The yard itself is a testament to the role of activism in every day life; the presence of Tower’s dogs and the lush San Antonio greenery alongside her current residence seamlessly coexist with the artworks, honing in on Tower’s understanding of activism and critique as a facet of ongoing, “normal” life.
Of the project, Tower states, “The main inspiration behind the Covid-19 Hallucination Garden was Chris Cuomo’s Covid hallucination of his brother — NY Governor Andrew Cuomo — dancing as a ballerina…so, of course, I had to make that! I consider the garden one piece of art, meant to be explored. Since the pandemic hit, as an artist, I now read more news, paint for my community with “oops paint” on recycled political signs anything they would like, build my yard out out of refuse, and continue to work on this victory garden.”