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# Graphic Reflections on the Sorry State of US Politics
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/graphic-reflections-on-the-sorry-state-of-us-politics/
- Published: 2018-07-12T15:24:31.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:24:55.000Z
- Description: These posters reflect a desire as an artist to “do something” about the social and political upheaval going on in this country.
- Author: Jeff Gates
- Tags: Art, Photo Essays, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-18 14:37 (2018)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/12_jeffgates_american_empire.jpg)

Jeff Gates “The Rise and Fall of the American Empire” (2013) (all images courtesy of the artist)

Under the guise of the [Chamomile Tea Party](http://chamomileteaparty.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com), I take old propaganda posters and remix them with new text and imagery about the sorry state of American political discourse. These posters reflect my desire as an artist to “do something” about the social and political upheaval going on in this country. In addition, they have been instrumental in helping me to clarify my vantage point. It’s not *on* the political left/right spectrum as much as it is outside of it, looking in. In my essay, [*Choking on Our Words*](https://crossingenres.com/choking-on-our-words-97829337fde?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* I said, I’m somewhere else — between anger and curiosity and between our fears and our truths — weaving my way through a nuanced political minefield.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/19_jeffgates_benghazi.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “It Came from Benghazi” (2014) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/9_jeffgates_fake_news.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Trump’s Fake News” (2017) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/4_healthcare_2017.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Don’t Use Our Healthcare as Your Political Battlefield!” (2013) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/6_jeffgates_control_our_bodies.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Politicians! Your Manly Insecurities Show When You Try to Control Our Bodies” (2012) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/15_jeffgates_merry_xmas.jpg)

Jeff Gates “A Xmas Card from the GOP” (2017) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/3_jeffgates_sold.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Sold!” (2012) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/16_jeffgates_massacre.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Massacre Repeat Massacre Repeat Massacre Repeat” (2017) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/jeffgates_immigration.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Welcome to America/Bienvenido a América” (2018) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/8_jeffgates_waiting.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Waiting” (2016) Chamomile Tea Party

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2018/07/18_jeffgates_resistance.jpg)

Jeff Gates, “Resistance is a Ground Game: Grab Your Tools” (2017) Chamomile Tea Party

Jeff Gates’s Chamomile Tea Party project is now featured on [Google Arts & Culture.](https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/chamomile-tea-party?ref=hyperallergic.com)