simply lilley: where watercolor meets whimsy

America’s Promise, Censored

I worked with several attorney friends to design a painting specifically for a publication about Immigration. The sources used to decorate her are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution Preamble and 14th Amendment, the Pledge of Allegiance, “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee, and “America the Beautiful,” all American symbols children are taught in grade school. Prior to printing, I was contacted and told that unless I removed the political messaging, my painting would not be included in the publication.
While I did make the required edits, I told the publication I would still be promoting the original painting. Ultimately, the publication decided to go a different direction and will not use the edited version.

After some thought, I decided the request to censor has now added more meaning, and the painting should be viewed as a set. As such, please welcome my newest “set” of paintings:
“America’s Promise” and “America’s Promise Redacted.”
5×7 Art Cards of the ORIGINAL will be available for sale for $20. All proceeds from the sales will be donated to the OCU Law Immigration Clinic. Please email me at: amandanlilley@gmail.com to purchase.