Monday links roundup – Wojnarowicz censorship at the Smithsonian

By libby and roberta

December 13, 2010   ·   6 Comments

You may be following the story about the censorship of the art exhibit at the Smithsonian in which a video by AIDS-activist artist David Wojnarowicz (1954-1992) was pulled from the show after House Republicans said it was anti-Catholic and should be removed.  Frank Rich in Sunday’s NY Times calls it an outrageous case of homophobia.

David Wojnarowicz, still from the video that was pulled from the show at the National Portrait Gallery.

The story is still developing, with protests being organized by artists and at least one resignation of a Smithsonian board member.  artblog‘s Andrea Kirsh will be covering the show and the controversy in two future posts.  We are disturbed by this return to 1980s tactics by politicians trying to kill free expression through name-calling and strong-arm tactics.  Here are three recent articles from the Washington Post to bring you up to speed.

PROFILE OF CENSORED ARTIST DAVID WOJNAROWICZ
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post Style Writer, profiles David Wojnarowicz, the artist who created the controversial “Fire In My Belly” video, which was removed from the Smithsonian’s exhibit .
‘Fire’ man: Wojnarowicz, censored by Smithsonian, sounded an alarm in dire times—

SMITHSONIAN REACTION/RESIGNATION
Jacqueline Trescott, Washington Post Style Writer, reports on the Smithsonian’s handling of the controversy, including the resignation of a Board member.
Smithsonian deals with fallout over David Wojnarowicz video controversy—

COLBERT ON CONTROVERSY
Stephen Colbert weighs in on the controversy (video)

Thanks to Katie Kemple for the heads up on these articles.

Tags: censorship, congressional republicans, david wojnarowicz, fire in my belly, national portrait gallery, smithsonian

6 Responses to “Monday links roundup – Wojnarowicz censorship at the Smithsonian”

1. Clay Ward says:

   December 13, 2010 at 1:07 pm

   Wojnarowicz once poured a bucket of paint down the steps of a gallery whose practices he was protesting. That was art to him… hard nosed activism. So now now the Republicans are the activists… like they’ve absorbed the free expressiveness of artists like Wojnarowicz and are turning it back on us.
2. libby says:

   December 16, 2010 at 6:04 pm

   Just got some PR from the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh, stating it is one of a number of institutions that are screening the “offending” video in protest. Here’s a web site listing organizations participating in the protests by screening “Fire in My Belly.”
3. John A. Karr says:

   December 20, 2010 at 9:49 am

   If there were no public funds involved, there would be no issue. The Smithsonian is taxpayer-funded, and whatever your religion/non-religion is, not everyone is going to want their tax dollars spent forwarding someone’s art that may offend some of those footing the bill.

   Private gallery? Do as you will. Tax-payer funded? There are limits to what is acceptable.
4. kelsey hj says:

   January 6, 2011 at 8:06 pm

   just got an e-mail that the ICA in Philly is now also joining the group of institutions protesting the censorship and will be screening the piece this month!
5. roberta says:

   January 6, 2011 at 8:38 pm

   thanks for the heads up Kelsey. Here’s from the ICA notice: “In protest of this censorship, ICA joins venues across the country by screening the video (“A Fire in My Belly”) through the end of the National Portrait Gallery exhibition on February 13th, 2011.”
6. libby says:

   January 6, 2011 at 9:21 pm

   Yes, it’s really great that they are doing this!