The phrase "Manifest Destiny" first appeared in an 1845 article by the
journalist John L. O'Sullivan.
Advocates of manifest destiny usually focus on three themes:
1. the virtue of the American people and their institutions
2. the mission to spread these institutions, thereby redeeming and
remaking the world in the image of the United States
3. the destiny under God to do this work
Although usually applied to the occupation and annexation of
North America and subjugation of native peoples by the U.S. government,
the rationale that God has ordained a chosen group of people to seize
territory and civilize savages is as old as humanity itself.
This series of clay monoprints was inspired by the classic
science fiction novel "Martian Chronicles" -- Ray Bradbury's
narrative of the exploration, conquest, destruction and abandonment
of the Martian civilization.
Each print consists of multiple sheets of black sandpaper --
much like the composite images created from multiple photographs
taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
