About the Art
The idea for this artwork came up when I was thinking about the world of self-destruction and self-alteration, and how people so willingly submit themselves to such disguised utopias. For a specific example, take binge drinking. People imbibe and become someone they normally are not, for a night of fun and escape, only to wake up in the morning miserable--thrown back to reality like a rejected, deflated playground ball to the pavement. And then there are more serious long-term effects when people drink or do drugs for extended periods of time. We've all heard the horror stories, but despite all the warning signs people go ahead and slowly destroy themselves. Is reality really that unbearable, that we should have to surrender to some half-consciousness to get away from it for a while? Perhaps it can be, but I still don't see how indulging in these things helps much. A temporary release, perhaps, but definitely not any kind of real answer. In addition to drinking and drugging, I also meant to refer to violence, intolerance, unhealthy obsessions, and the like. All are ways to temporarily and quickly avoid problems, but if you delve in too deeply you will end up with more problems than you had to begin with.

That's the idea behind this art. The Stickpeople are drawn to this vortex, this wormhole, with its dazzling and colorful possibilities. Perhaps their consciences (the glowing shadows, trying to pull their solid bodies back from the opening) know better, but the Stickmen can't help themselves... The Stickman on the right is one with his conscience, and wants to help his/her friends... Otherwise, all the Stickpeople are getting sucked into this "vicefish" and spun around until they are thrown into the dark background in the end. The Stickpeople in the back symbolize those who have gone too far and allowed their vices to take over their lives... and now they are sick, crazy, dying, or dead--all filled with some sort of despair. Notable is the Stickman who has literally lost his head, and right below him, the pair with one person mourning over the loss of her friend.

This is by far the most morbid and extreme art of this series, and I realize that things such as drugs and drinking do not always lead to such a lost and desperate future; however, I think there's enough proof that this happens often. In my mind, the possible risks and evils associated with such things outweigh the possible pleasures. Simply not worth it...

More on the theme of Vices
To extend on the idea I touched on in the paragraph above, I'd like to re-state that I'm not completely against drinking and drugs. As with just about anything, taken in moderation it can be virtually harmless. This level of "vice" is not what I am referring to here. I'm talking when people go overboard and their vices become who they are, and prevent the former person inside from living the life he or she is supposed to live.
Vices can be a distraction and a harm to causes, as well, as with the Cherokee Indians. Civilization brought along many vices, which were not necessarily completely absent from the Native American world, but were probably not quite so structured and idealized. Either way, the faults introduced to the Cherokees definitely did not help them focus and organize themselves to resist takeover, or (on the other hand) transition into civilization in a smooth and healthy way.

"Exposure to civilization only further corrupted these savages. Equally distressing was the inability of others who acknowledged the virtue of civilization to resist the vices. Many Indians lived on credit, and their wants far exceeded their means. Some discovered a civilized way to avoid manual labor: they bought African slaves to work for them. Southern Indians also liked to gamble, and, although this had been an aboriginal practice, civilization introduced new contests such as horse racing on which they could wager. But most tragically, many Indians acquired a taste for alcohol. Faced with the weakening of cultural traditions, economic and political changes, and an uncertain future, they overindulged, and drunkenness became a serious problem" (327).
-Theda Perdue

Broadening our scope to that of less specific vices such as intolerance and hatred, leads us to countless examples of violence and harm. There is not really much argument that them things have wildly negative effects on the victims...

"But the facing of so vast a prejudice could not but bring the inevitable self-questioning, self-disparagement, and lowering of ideals which ever accompany repression and breed in an atmosphere of contempt and hate" (146).
-W.E.B. Du Bois

When it seems to be so easy to fall into a world of escape, which ends up only leading to more problems... Many are at a loss where to turn. It can be a vicious cycle, for vices and ill-doings create more problems, which may create more vices and ill-doings, which create even more problems... you get the picture. (You know, like that song "Mo Money Mo Problems"... ok maybe not--but I couldn't help myself.) Perhaps we can move towards more enriching, long-lasting methods of coping with the world... There are many things that offer a quick escape, but it may not make much of a dent in the long run. This idea of positive "outlets" will come up later on, so I'll leave it at that, for now.