Michigan artist paints an unflattering portrait of Gov. Rick Snyder — in lead

Artist Michael Dykehouse's portrait of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder
(Image credit: Twitter)

Lest anyone forget Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's legacy in the Flint water crisis, artist Michael Dykehouse has painted a portrait of the governor, done completely in lead. In the portrait, Snyder looks weary and wan, depicted only in grays and tinges of yellow. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based artist says that's all part of his mission to create a permanent reminder of the potential harm caused by the city drinking water's high lead levels, which were introduced after the city switched water sources in April 2014 as a cost-cutting measure.

So far, Dykehouse says the heavy-metal portrait has gotten more of a response than any of his previous work. "I didn't want to bang people over the head with it," Dykehouse, 41, said of his intended subtlety in his depiction of the embattled governor.

He hopes to sell the portrait and donate a portion of the proceeds to a nonprofit in Flint.

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