x50_Spence | 4 points
More freaky art, this time by James Alefantis in a letter to Scretary Wayne Clough of the Smithsonian Institution - Talks about "Right Wing Agendas"
Here is the "video art" being talked about here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozW6rBT80Po
super fucked up shit. I dont think you have to be right wing to want to ban this.
Late Thursday, Transformer Gallery Board President James Alefantis and Executive Director Victoria Reis issued the following open letter to Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough. The gallery hopes to collect signatures from arts and civil rights groups in the coming days. Here's the unedited letter.
"The Honorable G. Wayne Clough Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
"Dear Secretary Clough,
"We recognize your leadership and courage in deciding some months ago to support the National Portrait Gallery leadership and curators in exhibiting 'Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture.' However, we are deeply troubled by your decision to remove the David Wojnarowicz piece from the exhibit. "As you may know, the 'controversy' over this video art began earlier this week in an article published by the Conservative News Service, a disreputable right-wing on-line publication. The piece objected to what was described as an 'ant-covered Jesus' and denounced the Smithsonian itself for referring to the art as 'homoerotic.' Republican leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor suggested the entire exhibit be cancelled, and threatened the federal funding of the Gallery unless the Smithsonian pulled the Wojnarowicz piece. William Donohue of the Catholic League initiated a right-wing action campaign directed toward your email address.
"The Smithsonian then pulled the Wojnarowicz video. We believe this decision is wrong and should be reversed immediately.
"The National Portrait Gallery is supported by U.S. taxpayers and, according to press reports, it features signage saying it is committed to 'the struggle for justice so that people and groups can claim their full inheritance in the American promise of equality inclusion and social dignity.' The Gallery has described the exhibit as 'the first major exhibition to examine the influence of gay and lesbian artists in creating modern American portraiture.'
"Wendy Olsoff, who represents the Wojnarowicz's estate, said: 'David believed the imagery of ants' society was parallel to human society.'
"You must know, but in the event you do not, we the undersigned are here to tell you that your right-wing critics, including in the Congress, know nothing and care nothing about art. They care not a wit about freedom of expression, or free speech, or 'the American promise of equality, inclusion and social dignity.'
"Do not be afraid of the ants. Artists and academics promote culture in America, political activists do not. Americans are facing unprecedented challenges right now at home and abroad, we do not need another phony 'culture war' distraction.
"We agree with the statement of Rep. James P. Moran, chairman of the subcommittee that provides funding for the country's major art institutions, in today's Washington Post. 'The whole point is that we should not be censoring we should be discussing.' Moran went on to say that right-wing critics are using the 11 seconds in Wojnarowicz's work involving the ants to undermine your entire exhibit for partisan gain.
"Given your position representing American culture to the world, we are ready to stand with you, if you do the right thing for art and artists around the world and reverse your mistaken decision in this matter immediately.
"Sincerely, James Alefantis, Board President of Transformer Victoria Reis, Co-founder and Executive & Artistic Director of Transformer"
source: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/arts-post/2010/12/transformer_letter_to_smithson.html
archive link: http://archive.is/vQWKh#selection-1689.0-1749.76
shogun_starship | 6 points | Nov 12 2016 19:36:18
Video is highly disturbing but should not be banned. No art should be illegal unless it somehow harms another person. Being emotionally upset doesn't count, otherwise we would have to ban horror movies.
permalink