SIGN OF THE TIMES

Melissa and I were in Target the other day, browsing the Christmas section to see what's new and interesting this year.

This display was not what I was expecting, but it is certainly "new and interesting":

This is the section for Christmas wrapping paper and gift bags. The panels are there to describe some of the featured artists. In and of itself, it is a nice idea. Graphic artists rarely get the recognition they deserve. 

But this sign was more than a "fun fact" sort of curiosity. It was a cultural signpost.

I take some comfort in the fact that a Target employee had installed the two panels in the wrong order and walked away without noticing. (Obviously, it is meant to read across the top, "Celebrating art & culture ARTIST SERIES".) 

That suggests to me that perhaps the rank-and-file didn't find the display as necessary as some Target executive did. 

Here are the descriptions of two of the artists:

Sadly, we are left without specific information on the sexual proclivities of the other 3 artists behind our choices for wrapping paper ...

Do better, Target!