Election Statement As of July 2007 over 220 million citizens are eligible to vote in the coming election and 3 million of those reside in Kentucky.(1)   That is why this year’s Member’s Open, Election, addresses the social, political, and personal issues that are coming to the forefront with the November presidential election.  With this exhibition, LAL artists present unique and personal ways of thinking about these concerns that will affect us all.  The artwork throughout the galleries incorporate ideas both subtly and overtly, that in some way, relate to what the presidential candidates are debating. According to a poll conducted in March, 2008 by CNN/Opinion Research Corp. the following issues were most important to voters in this coming election, Economy: 42%, War in Iraq: 21%, Health care: 18%, Terrorism: 10%, Illegal immigration: 7%.(2)   These topics, and more, are reflected in the works on exhibit.  Erica Meuser’s monotypes, both titled 9/11/07, address the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the state America has been put in by both.  For a more satirical look, Kenn Minter’s Future pokes fun at our country’s potential response to global warming, civil unions, and terrorism.  Lee Ann Paynter’s polyptych, made of five black and white photographs, documents what she believes is the struggle between church and state. With this exhibition, artists have presented a unique way to think about the importance of our right to vote in an election and how, as individuals, we will be impacted by what politicians do, or don’t do, on a personal level.  Thirty artists entered the sixty-five artworks in Election, highlighting how art can be a central means of communicating thoughts, ideas and concerns related to the topical issues we face as an American people. (1) US Census Bureau. 29 May 2008. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting.html>. (2) CNN.com. Cable News Network, LP. LLLP. A Time Warner Company. 29 May 2008. <http://www.cnn.com>.