Artists You Should Know: Ben Shahn

Ben Shahn's profile was difficult to write, but not because there was little to work with. On the contrary. He created and wrote so much about so many topics, in so many mediums, a short biographical sketch is problematic. Additionally, it was difficult to restrain myself from jumping on a political soapbox and shouting, "Listen to this man! Look at what he thought was important!" Suffice it to say, he probably would have had a few thoughts about the Patriot Act.

I would like to thank Dr. Ezra Shahn for writing - to me, specifically about his father, and for us all through his many scholarly publications. He expressed thoughts, some years back, about cultural literacy and the fallacies of "core curriculum" that impressed and stuck with me. Thank you, sir.