RICHARD BARGDILL, PhD
Dr. Richard Bargdill is an artist, an environmental activist and an associate professor of psychology at the Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author (2014) of: An Artist’sThought Book: intriguing thoughts about the artistic process (2nd Edition). Rich has published over two-dozen poems in various journals and books. He has won multiple awards both for his poetry and his visual artwork. He teaches a course at VCU on the Psychology of Creativity. His published psychological research includes a variety of topics: boredom, meaning making, Daoism, dreams and most recently on Eco-martyrs and positive self-sacrifice. His artwork appears on the cover of several books published by University Professors Press.
Protest Through Tear[s]-Gas
(Acrylic on Canvas, 4’ x 4’)
This is a representational image of a female indigenous leader who is protesting against the capitalistic extraction of resources from her native land. Observers have gathered in support on the right side and some on the left. Other folks are going about their business seemingly unconcerned about the uprising. Those who restrict and control voices have released tear gas to clear the streets of dissent. But a figure emerges through the gas, certainly not unaffected but also not daunted.