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Author: Birk, Sandow
Title: A Rake's Progress: The Life and Times of Rafael Perez - suite of four etchings
Place Published: Hollywood, CA
Publisher:Eisenberg Press
Date Published: 2000-2001
Description:

Four copper-plate etchings on Arches paper, with etched title page. 23x29.4 cm (9x11¾"). No. 10 of 20.

Each sheet signed by Sandow Birk and dated 2001. "A series commissioned by the COLA (City of Los Angeles) artist grant for exhibition at the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles in 2002...The series was inspired by The Rake's Progress paintings by William Hogarth in 1780's, which follow the life of a young man in London. The series shows the decline and fall of Tom Rakewell, the son and heir of a rich merchant, who wastes all his money on luxurious living, prostitution and gambling, and as a consequence is imprisoned and ultimately ends up at the Bethlem Hospital (Bedlam) for the mentally ill...My series follows the career of the notorious LAPD officer Rafael Perez, who's misdeeds and horrific actions landed him in prison in what became known as the Rampart Scandal." -from the Artist's website. The edition of A Rakes Progress was comprised of 20 sets.

Sandow Birks' description of the Rafael Perez's "progress":

• 
  In the first scene, we meet the new officer Perez on his graduation from the police academy at Elysian Park, proudly pointing to his badge as other officers preen.


• 
  In the second scene, Perez and his partners do coke and smoke pot in the back room of the Short Stop bar near Dodger Stadium - a notorious "cop bar" in L.A.


• 
  In the third scene, we see Perez and his partner in a home invasion, robbing and shooting a man in his living room, with a view of downtown L.A. out the window and lines of coke on the table, as his girlfriend pleads mercy.


• 
  In the last scene, we see Perez in prison, arguing over use of the payphone while other inmates with "Cops" on TV.

Fine.