Jerry Belland
Life often imitates art. Jerry Belland hopes the afterlife does, too. Scott Walker in Hell and Other Delights, published in October by Rust Bowl Press, is the Racine-area artist’s collected cartoon commentary on The Great Polarizer.
The book is made up of Belland’s humorous — and sometimes savage — watercolors, depicting various scenes Gov. Walker could face in hell. Highlights include the governor about to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound (in reference to his support for a law that requires
Jerry Belland
women seeking an abortion to first have an ultrasound) and Satan offering to return Walker to earth “with a minimum-wage job, three kids, one of them mentally challenged, and a drinking problem. And you’re a single parent who finally figured out that he’s gay.” (Walker asks to remain in hell.)
Although the author credits early Mad magazine for inspiration, his style is also reminiscent of satirical printmaker Warrington Colescott, who taught him at UW-Madison, where he graduated in 1970. Belland’s work, including the Walker cartoons, has been exhibited regionally, and the current project began with a 2012 fellowship from the Racine Art Museum. Belland spoke with Isthmus about the ideas behind the series.
How did the Scott Walker cartoon project begin?
The first one I made was Bettie Page torturing Scott Walker in hell. A large number of people that I ran into didn’t know who [1950s pinup model] Bettie Page was, so I had to switch it to Marilyn Monroe. I was just sort of playing around. I just kept on getting more ideas for them. He’s the gift that keeps giving, as far as satire goes.
Why cartoons, of all art forms?
At that time I was very disillusioned with the art world, and still am. I didn’t want to go around the arty track making stuff. I just wanted to make some cartoons. That sounds like a cavalier attitude, but it really took a lot of guts.
What was the reaction?
I posted them on Facebook, and the crowd went wild. People loved them — and the art community loved them. This was the big shock. I felt that I was doing a service to the liberals in the state who were being torn a new one every other day by what Scott Walker was doing; at least they could laugh about it.
There was controversy when some of the cartoons were exhibited at UW-Parkside.
Nothing came of it, but it was kind of nice to be noticed. If you’re in the art world, out there in dreamy-dreamland, where I’ve been for many years, you can take your fine feelings and your artiness and it will generally buy you a cup of jack squat. But people were interested. The response was so overwhelming.
Have you heard anything from the governor’s office?
No. No. (laughs) People ask me that. “Oh, you must be quaking in your boots. Scott Walker’s henchmen are soon to be knocking at your door.” All I can say is that artists are invisible for the most part.
What have you been up to since the book came out?
I posted a series of cartoons to Facebook after [Walker] dropped out of the presidential race, and I think they’re among the very best, really. The devil is shown being unfaithful to Scott after he shows more interest in Trump. n
Belland’s work can be viewed on his Facebook page and at jerrybellandart.net. Scott Walker in Hell and Other Delights is available at Create Space and Amazon, and will soon be available at A Room of One’s Own and other Madison stores.
