After a few government officials got all intolerant about it, some museum people got all coward about it. And now some people with money are actually getting very serious (and awesome) about it. In the wake of the Smithsonian taking down David Wojnarowicz' performance art piece Fire in My Belly from its Hide/Seek Difference and Desire in American Portraiture exhibit, the Andy Warhol Foundation is threatening to stop funding the institution.
What gives Smithsonian? As an entity that exists to preserve and further cultural and artistic expression, is it really your place to bow down to the pressure of a small and intolerant political group? Art is supposed to provoke, and make people think and discuss. Regardless of any political or religious beliefs, we can't sterilize our museums and galleries just because something may be upsetting for one group. I realize funding was probably the buzz word that made the complaint over the piece have some weight, but this exhibit is not even being publicly funded. Lets see what they'll do now, that funding is also the counter-argument:
In a letter sent on Monday to the head of the Smithsonian, G. Wayne Clough, Joel Wachs, the president of the Warhol Foundation, said that the foundation’s board voted unanimously on Friday to demand that the Smithsonian restore the work, an excerpt of a video by the artist David Wojnarowicz, to the exhibition or the foundation would reject any future grant requests.I say, next time conservatives/catholics want to be outraged by a work of art that might look to them to be "a form of hate speech," or an "outrageous use of taxpayer money and an obvious attempt to offend Christians during the Christmas season," how about they do it over a work of art that hasn't been around for over 20 years. At least they'll look a bit more relevant. Can't wait for next year when they start talking about Serrano's Piss Christ.
So, I feel like it is my duty (and yours) to keep re-posting and spreading this work of performance art all around. Its the season of giving after all. My
Video credits: Courtesy of The Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P.P.O.W Gallery, New York and The Fales Library and Special Collections/ New York University [via ppow_gallery on VImeo]
Warhol Foundation Threatens to End Financing of Smithsonian Exhibitions [via The New York Times]