Image source: Huffpost
An exhibit was held at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas over the weekend, and a performance art stood out from the bunch.
The art
The talk in the exhibit was about a mock prison cell with a barefoot artist in an orange overalls.
The artist also wore the easily recognizable red hat with “Make America Great Again” printed in white.
The headphones were distributed to the public during the exhibition.
The audio of the moving testimony of the riot defendants of January 6 was then reproduced.
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Reception of the exhibition
Michael Lovorn, the principal of the School of Education at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, saw the exhibit and described it as “immersive”.
“It’s stunning, really,” Lovorn said.
Freelance journalist Laura Jedeed attended the event to capture the MAGA booth on Friday.
She described it as “the most astonishing thing” she has ever seen.
Needed also said it was like a silent disco, but “instead of dancing, just stand there and watch this man cry”.
“What I need you to understand is that I stood here for about half an hour yesterday and this guy NEVER broke character,” tweeted Jeeded.
“He wept sitting on the bench. He wept sitting on the floor. He tallied on a chalkboard set up for the [sic] purpise”
The show’s theatrical performance caused some online ridicule, but CPAC attendees reacted differently.
“The crowd was somber as they studied the man in the cage and listened to the audio of people arrested for Jan. 6-related crimes on the headset,” Jeeded revealed.
“Nobody else seemed to find it particularly funny.”
The concept
The artwork is believed to be designed to appeal to those who believe that participants in the January 6 riots should not be jailed for attacking the Capitol.
Despite the Justice Department investigation and the January 6 House Select Committee hearing, many Trump supporters still believe the rioters did nothing wrong.
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The artist
The man behind the cell was Brandon Straka, a former New York hairdresser turned pro-Trump activist.
Straka is also the founder of the non-profit Walk Away Foundation, an organization that encourages people to leave the Democratic Party.
Earlier this year, Straka was sentenced to three years probation after admitting joining the pro-Trump mob and encouraging him to storm the Capitol.
He withstood lengthy court oversight, but Judge Dabney Friedrich found a three-year probationary period necessary.
The judge also ordered Straka to spend three months under house arrest and pay a $5,000 fine.
Despite the punishment, Brandon Straka was branded a “snitch” and a “traitor” for his cooperation with the FBI.
Straka provided key insights into pro-Trump “Stop the Steal” organizers Ali Alexander, Amy and Kylie Kremer, and Cindy Chafian.
He also helped the FBI identify a potential suspect who was not under their radar.
References:
Jan. 6 ‘prison’ exhibit at CPAC causes stir
Bizarre CPAC exhibit features Jan 6 ‘prisoner’ behind bars and silent disco headphones
