Art Doesn't Have To Be Serious Or Inflammatory To Be Political

Some people don't mind making overt political statements with their art. Many are squeamish about it. With pin art, I try to point out that the depiction of elicit substances, often paired with characters from popular culture (very common in pins), makes a pretty clear statement about one's alignment on all sorts of social and political issues. This is usually seen as an exception, however, as it is a common and accepted stylistic choice within the community. 

What people usually mean is that they don't want to make divisive political art that might make some of their fans uncomfortable. They don't want to upset people who have differing opinions, and not just for financial reasons. They care about their fans and don't want to be a source of negativity in their lives.

It's a commendable approach, but it often leaves them wishing they could tackle meaningful projects but avoid them out of abject fear. I say it's easier to approach it by showing what you support rather than railing against that which you don't. By keeping things in the positive you can say a lot about yourself without making oppositional political statements. 

If a pin like Best Buds upsets people, it's not because I've attacked them in any way. I love cannabis. That doesn't mean I think anybody else should, or that I would ever imply they need to. I try to do the same with a lot of the art I make with Machine Cloud Creative, and I think it's a really healthy way for artists to approach any subject they have discomfort with but would like to explore more deeply and meaningfully.