Political art is a tricky thing; one can cross the line from clever criticism to heavy-handed vitriol with a quick stroke of the brush. American University’s Katzen Art Center provides a daring look at the many facets of this genre with Visual Politics: The Art of Engagement, a collection on tour from the San Jose Museum of Art in California. The show is a mixed bag of subject matter, media, and style, but each piece attempts to reach out and shake you, whether it’s through outrage, sorrow, indignation, or pleas for help. It might be easy to come away simply worn-out by the experience; however, taking a small step back from the specific issues tackled in the collection will give you a fascinating overview of modern approaches to political engagement in art.

First, a hat tip to the Katzen for their integration of technology and art. Not only does Director and Curator Jack Rasmussen write a blog, but visitors to the Katzen can pick up an iPod that features a series of podcasts, including an introduction to the Visual Politics exhibit and short discussions of about fifteen of the major pieces in the show (you can even download them yourself here before you make the trip). Cheers to that.