The Politician: A Toy [Removed]

The Politician: A Toy is not subtle about its statement. Meant to represent the elected officials of the United States, the Toy is cartoonish, juvenile, and obnoxious. The wide mouth with sharp, cutting teeth opens and closes incrementally; the wheels turn day and night but don't take anything anywhere; and the eyes are two TV's displaying static. Sparkly, wavy strands of thinning hair complement perfectly the clownish polka dot bow tie. The massive Cedarwood handle on the front seems to shamelessly imply that the politicians can be lead by anyone with a big enough hand, and the broom that drags behind it conveniently sweeps up any messes left in its trail. In short: the politician is effectively all talk and no walk.

Michael R. White, the Mayor of Cleveland at the time of The Politician's creation, was famously opposed to its installation saying, "I've seen it, and I don't like it... " Which may be a sign that the piece is effective.

In 2019 a controversy arose around the artist's desire to periodically place messages on the sculpture's surrounding fence, one of which -- thought to be about President Trump -- led to a lawsuit which was settled by the sculpture being slated for removal by July 24th. https://www.ideastream.org/news/controversial-cleveland-sculpture-moves-again-after-lawsuit It was subsequently removed to the artist's studio.