Last chance: Gladiator of the Political Pencil: The Cartoons of Thomas Nast

Thru Sunday, Nov. 4
Nothing cuts to the essence of election campaigning like a political cartoon, and those by Thomas Nast are considered by many to be the best. With less than a week to go before we decide who will sit in the White House for the next four years, consider a visit to Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Ave., this weekend. The exhibit Gladiator of the Political Pencil: The Cartoons of Thomas Nast concludes Sunday, Nov. 4. In the last half of the 19th century, Nast battled government corruption and elevated figures like Abraham Lincoln through his images that were widely printed. It’s his symbols, however, that have proved to be most influential on American culture – from the donkey and elephant representing the dominant political parties to his drawings of Santa and Uncle Sam. After a walk through of the cartoons of Thomas Nast, you’re likely to react to the fact that campaigns and their supporters have been sparring for decades in our country. It’s enough to make you laugh, cry or both. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday-Sunday. The museum is open until 8 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is $7-$9. For more, go to philbrook.org.