Hide/Seek Timeline: Part 2
Continued from:Hide/Seek Timeline: Part 1
Continued at: Hide/Seek Timeline: January 2011
December 1, 2010
- the decision to remove the David Wojnarowicz video A Fire in My Belly from the National Portrait Gallery’s “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” was made by Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough. Until contacted by MAN on Wednesday afternoon and as recently as Wednesday morning, the Smithsonian had maintained that the decision to pull the Wojnarowicz was made by NPG director Martin Sullivan and Richard Kurin, the Smithsonian undersecretary for art, history and culture. A source told MAN of Clough’s involvement and a Smithsonian spokesperson confirmed the account.
- “In the end, a decision like that is the Secretary’s,” Smithsonian spokesperson Linda St. Thomas told me.
- The Castle’s admission that Clough himself made the call to pull the Wojnarowicz is also the Smithsonian’s first admission the Secretary has been involved in the controversy surrounding “Hide/Seek.”
Katz, Jonathan David: On Hide/Seek
- Statement from co-curator of the National Portrait Gallery’s Hide/Seek:Difference and Desire in American Portraiture. Posted Facebook December 1, 2010 at Facebook: Support Hide/Seek
National Public Radio: Smithsonian Under Fire for Gay Portraiture Exhibit, December 1, 2010
New York Post: "Rethinking the anty-Christ", December 1, 2010
Trescott, Jacqueline, "Ant-covered Jesus video removed from Smithsonian after Catholic League complains", Washington Post, December 1, 2010; 12:00 AM.
- Officials at the National Portrait Gallery on Tuesday removed a work of video art depicting Christ with ants crawling over him after complaints from a Catholic organization and members of Congress.
- The four-minute video, created by the late artist David Wojnarowicz, had been on exhibit since Oct. 30 as part of a show on sexual difference in American portraiture.
- The piece was called "hate speech" by Catholic League president William Donohue and a misuse of taxpayer money by a spokesman for Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), the presumptive incoming House speaker.
- Officials at the museum and the Smithsonian Institution, which includes the Portrait Gallery, said they had not intended to be offensive by showing the work and removed it to better focus on the exhibit's strengths.
- "The decision wasn't caving in," said Martin E. Sullivan, the museum's director. "We don't want to shy away from anything that is controversial, but we want to focus on the museum's and this show's strengths."
- An 11-second portion of the video shows a small crucifix covered with ants. The video is included in the exhibit, "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture."
World AIDS Day, December 1, 2010.
- See: WorldAidsDay.org
- See: WorldAidsDayCampaign.org
- See: Wikipedia: World AIDS Day
December 2, 2010
Atkins, Robert. to Queer Caucus for Art Discussion List, December 2, 2010
Bell, Ford W., President, American Association of Museums. Email quoted by Trescott, December 2, below.
- The American Association of Museums, based in Washington, said the Portrait Gallery did the right thing in deciding to pull the video in question. "We concur that it should not distract from the other thoughtful and provocative work in this important exhibition. However, we regret the controversy surrounding the excellent show," said Ford W. Bell, the group's president, in an e-mail.
Roake, Jessica.The Culture Wars: What Else Is In the National Portrait Gallery's "Offensive" Gay Show? Accessed December 3, 2010 from The Awl (blog).
Transformer Gallery: to Wayne Clough, December 2, 2010
Trescptt, Jacqueline, Washington Post: "debate over museum's censorship rages", December 2, 2010
Rainbow History Project. "Statement on Censorship at the Smithsonian."
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 02, 2010
- Since its founding in 2000, the Rainbow History Project has been committed to preserving the stories and memories—personal, geographical, and cultural—of the GLBT community in the greater Washington D.C. area and nationally. Those stories and memories are now under attack in the form of the Smithsonian Institution’s removal, at the behest of the Catholic League and other conservative groups, of David Wojnarowicz’s video A Fire in My Belly from the National Portrait Gallery exhibit Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture.
- That the art and activism of David Wojnarowicz, whose commitment to presenting the lived experience of those with HIV/AIDS inspired so many both before and after his death from AIDS in 1992, should be censored on World AIDS Day is doubly disturbing. The Rainbow History Project Board calls on the Smithsonian Institution to restore A Fire in My Belly to its place in the Hide/Seek exhibition and to issue an apology for its censorious actions to the Estate of David Wojnarowicz; to Jonathan D. Katz, David C. Ward, and Jenn Sichel, the curators of Hide/Seek; and to its patrons.
- We must not allow artistic expression or GLBT lives and experiences to be censored in the face of political pressure.
- Board of Directors: Philip Clark, Chair; Jeff Donohoe, Secretary; Jan Knode, Treasurer; Rebecca Dolinsky; Chuck Goldfarb; Patsy Lynch; Chris Man; Jim Marks; Kim Sescoe; Dan Vera
- Accessed December 6, 2010 from: http://www.rainbowhistory.org/
Schlinkert, Sam. Art Censorship Controversies: A Brief History [NSFW Dec 2, 2010]
Washington Post. "Editorials. Undue political pressure on a portrait gallery".
December 3, 2010
Association of Art Museum Curators: Hide/Seek Controversy, December 3, 2010
P·P·O·W and Estate of David Wojnarowicz: Response to Smithsonian, December 3, 2010
December 5, 2010
Dan Cameron: "Why David Wojnarowicz Matters", December 5, 2005
Learsy, Raymond J. "Culture Wars Return to Washington and New York." Huffington Post. Posted: December 5, 2010 11:18 AM. Learsy is a scholar and author of "Over a Barrel: Breaking Oil's Grip on Our Future".
Logan, Brian. "Hide/Seek: Too shocking for America," Guardian (London).
- These images, from America's first major exhibition of gay art, have outraged the country's right – leading to one of them being banned. Accessed December 6, 2010 from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/dec/05/hide-seek-gay-art-smithsonian
National Portrait Gallery Protest
Mike B. and Mike I.: SilenceStillEqsDeath.
- Protesters display censored art ("A Fire in My Belly" by David Wojnarowicz) inside the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, days after pressure groups and members of Congress had it removed. Both protesters were detained and banned from all Smithsonian properties for life. More action is planned -- for updates see SilenceStillEqualsDeath.blogspot.com Category: News & Politics Tags: censorship, David Wojnarowicz, fire in my belly, video, gay, AIDS, ant, ants, crucifix, cross, Smithsonian, National Portrait Gallery, Boehner, Catholic League, Donohue
New York City Meeting to Take Action Against Censorship
- Sunday, December 5, 3-5 pm. PARTICIPANT INC. 253 East Houston St. FOR INFORMATION, to join the mailing list email hunterr5930@yahoo.com or phone: (212) 966-1091
December 6, 2010
New York Times: "Editorial: Bullying and Censorship. New York Times. Published online: December 6, 2010. Published in print on December 7, 2010, on page A32 of the New York edition.
- Excerpt:
- In an appalling act of political cowardice, the Smithsonian Institution last week removed “A Fire in My Belly,” a four-minute video clip, from an exhibit called “Hide/Seek” at the National Portrait Gallery. The privately financed show explores identity, gender and homosexuality in American portraiture.
- The video, by David Wojnarowicz, is a moving, anguished reflection on the artist’s impending death from AIDS. It shows very quick glimpses of challenging and, at times, disturbing images, including masks, a meatpacking plant, various objects on fire and the artist undressing himself.
- . . .
- The Catholic League is entitled to protest, as are members of Congress, although the bullying from Mr. Boehner’s office was chilling. Mr. Clough had a responsibility to defend this work and to reject censorship. He failed. On Monday, the Smithsonian announced that the exhibit will remain open, as planned, until Feb. 13, but without Mr. Wojnarowicz’s video. That is not remotely good enough.
Smithsonian News Release: Smithsonian Stands Firmly Behind "Hide/Seek" Exhibition
- The exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture,” which opened Oct. 30, recently sparked a great deal of controversy.
- One of the exhibition’s 105 works—a short segment in a four-minute video created as a complex metaphor for AIDS—was perceived by some to be anti-Christian. It generated a strong response from the public. We removed it from the exhibition Nov. 30 because the attention it was receiving distracted from the overall exhibition, which includes works by American artists John Singer Sargent, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Annie Leibovitz and Georgia O’Keeffe.
- “Hide/Seek” is scheduled to continue as planned until Feb. 13.
- The museum and the Smithsonian stand firmly behind the scholarly merit and historical and artistic importance of the exhibition.
- Acknowledging that some visitors may prefer not to encounter some of the subject matter in the exhibit, the museum installed signs at both entrances, reading “This exhibition contains mature themes.”
December 7, 2010
Smithsonian Institution: Q and A Regarding the "Hide/Seek" Exhibition, December 7, 2010
December 8, 2010
ArtInfo: "Leaked Letter Shows Internal Tensions Over Smithsonian Censorship", December 8, 2010
The Courtauld Institute of Art, Research Forum. Mezzanine Floor, East Wing, Somerset House, WC2R 0RN. London, United Kingdom. Wednesday, December 8 · 12:00pm - 1:00pm.
- Following pressure from the Catholic League president William Donahue, the Smithsonian Museum last week removed a 1987 film piece "A Fire in My Belly" by David Wojnarowicz from the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition entitled "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture." The controversial material in focus is 11 seconds of footage from a 4 minute film featuring ants crawling over an effigy of Christ. With the threat of the withdrawal of 'public' funding from the museum, the Smithsonian's directors felt they had no option but to buckle to the hysteria of a minority of objectors. The works removal, on the eve of World AIDS day, is worryingly reminiscent of the 1989 moment when Senator Jesse Helms demonized Robert Mapplethorpe’s sexuality, and by extension, his art, pulling a cowering art world to its knees.
- One of the great powers of art is its ability to foster both nuanced and heartfelt discussions about serious cultural issues. It is inherent to the nature of such discussions that they elicit strong, and often conflicting, feelings. It is crucial that museums and curators feel free to address such issues and to take intellectual, political, and aesthetic risks without fear of retribution (political, financial, or other). This event will attempt to explore these issues.
- Two versions of "A Fire in My Belly" will be screened: the original 13-minute version edited by Wojnarowicz, and the 4-minute version shown at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, with an audio re-mix featuring Diamanda Galas and edited by curator Jonathan Katz. The screenings will be followed with conversation between a number of Courtauld staff.
- Jonathan Katz will also make a statement via skype!
- The event will be open to all with free admission
Taylor, Kate. "After Dispute Over Video, Curators to Discuss Smithsonian Show". New York Times, December 8, 2010, 1:49 PM
December 9, 2010
College Art Association Board-sponsored Centennial Panel, chaired by Dr. Jonathan David Katz, addressed the Portrait Gallery censorship matter on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in the Rendezvous Trianon Room, Hilton New York Hotel
Good. Blu's MOCA Mural Erased; Who's to Blame?
Green, Tyler. "NPG commissioner resigns to protest removal."
- National Portrait Gallery commissioner James T. Bartlett has resigned in protest of the Smithsonian’s removal of David Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in My Belly from the “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” exhibition. Bartlett is the former board president of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The commission functions as a kind of board of directors for the gallery.
Jacqueline Trescott, Washington Post: "Smithsonian deals with fallout", December 9, 2010
New York City Meeting to Take Action Against Censorship
- Thursday, December 9, PPOW, 511 West 25th Street #301, New York, NY 10001, (212) 647-1044; 6:30 to 8:30pm
December 10, 2010
Carter, Holland. New York Times: "Critic's Notebook. As Ants Crawl Over Crucifix", December 10, 2010
National Coalition Against Censorship: LA MOCA Whitewashes Political Mural. December 10, 2010
- Los Angles Museum of Contemporary Art, newly headed by New York transplant Jeffrey Deitch, whitewashed a mural painted by internationally known street artist BLU. The mural, originally commissioned by MOCA for their upcoming Art in the Street exhibit, faces the Veterans Administration healthcare building on Temple Street in Downtown Los Angeles.
- Is it a publicity stunt and part of the art project? See Good December 9, 2010.
San Francisco Camerawork and the Queer Cultural Center: Emergency Screening of David Wojnarowicz's A Fire in My Belly. Friday, December 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm
- The unedited video by artist David Wojnarowicz recently censored from the National Portrait Gallery's Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture exhibition after objections raised by members of Congress and the Catholic League without input or discussion with the curator or public. This Emergency Screening is part of a nationwide movement to screen the film and discuss it publicly.
- The 13-minute video will be followed by a presentation by art historian, writer, and activist Robert Atkins who will provide historical context for such acts of government censorship and help lead a panel discussion that will include queer activists, scholars, and artists. Robert Atkins, Ian Carter, Kim Anno, and other distinguished panelists will elicit audience responses and potential plans for making sure such censoring of exhibitions and ideas do not go unchallenged. The evening will culminate with comments from Jonathan D. Katz, curator of Hide/Seek, who will join us from New York via Skype.
December 11, 20010
Rich, Frank. Gay Bashing at the Smithsonian. New York Times.
December 13, 2010
M.S., Economist: "Democracy in America", December 13, 2010
Warhol Foundation: "Demands Reinstatement of Censored Art", December 13, 2010
December 14, 2010
- Excerpt: The Calamus Foundation, the other main backer of Hide/Seek, has written a withering letter to the Smithsonian saying that "our trust in the Smithsonian and the National Gallery to maintain the highest standards of independence, artistic integrity and free speech has been betrayed... Your action empowers the forces of discrimination, repression and homophobia the exhibition purports to challenge."
- The board of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, which put $10,000 towards Hide/Seek, meets on Tuesday and will discuss a possible funding freeze.
- Michael Stout, its president, said that he expected the board to endorse the decision of the Warhol Foundation and to follow its lead. "We think the gallery's decision was pretty short-sighted. It gives the impression that institutions will honour whatever religious pressure is brought to bear.
- "Does that mean that conservative Islamists will have their way with public institutions, Jewish groups, the Christian right? This is a big mess."
December 15, 2010
Katz, Jonathan David. "Background To An Exhibition, Or Why Only Now Do We Get A Gay Show In A National Museum?" The Archive: The Journal of the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation, No. 36, Fall 2010, pages 8-13.
Katz, Jonathan David, David C. Ward on "Hide/Seek: Seeking and Speaking Sexuality in the Museum." The curators of Hide/Seek speak about the exhibition and the response to it. Wednesday, December 15, New York Public Library, 7 pm, Schwarzman Building, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, South Court Auditorium. Information: http://lgbt.nypl.org/
New York Times: Letters. "A Provocative Artwork That Provoked". Published online: December 15, 2010. A version of this letter appeared in print on December 16, 2010, on page A38 of the New York edition.
- Letters from: Lloyd Hamrol, Los Angeles, Dec. 11, 2010; Jane Alexander, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., Dec. 14, 2010; William Donohue, President, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, New York, Dec. 12, 2010; Bruce Ellerstein, New York, Dec. 12, 2010; Martin Sullivan, Director, National Portrait Gallery, Washington, Dec. 9, 2010; JonScott Williams, Richmond, Va., Dec. 7, 2010; David J. Edmondson, Alexandria, Va., Dec. 7, 2010.
Taylor, Kate, "Curators Criticize Controversial Art’s Removal". New York Times. Online: December 15, 2010. A version of this article appeared in print on December 16, 2010, on page A32 of the New York edition.
December 16, 2010
- Artist announces his request to the National Portrait Gallery to remove one of his artworks, a protest against censorship of the show by the Smithsonian's head.
Donohoe, Bill. "THE 'AMERICAN TALIBAN' CATHOLIC LEAGUE", December 16, 2010
Gopnik, Blake. "Artist asks to withdraw work from 'Hide/Seek' exhibit to protest video removal". Washington Post. Posted at 9:18 AM ET, 12/16/2010
International Center for Photography. David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly 1986–87: Conversation by Panel and Video Screening
- School at ICP, 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 7:00 pm RSVP required: ecardona@icp.org. The event is free.
- Panelists include:
- Nayland Blake (co-moderator), chair of the ICP/Bard Master’s program in Advanced Photographic Studies;
- Joy Episalla, New York-based photography, video and sculpture artist;
- Jonathan David Katz, co-curator of “Hide/Seek” and director of the doctoral program in visual studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo;
- Kristen Lubben (co-moderator), associate curator at ICP;
- Amy Scholder, editor of In the Shadow of the American Dream: The Diaries of David Wojnarowicz;
- Marvin Taylor, director of the Fales Library and Special Collections at New York University.
Kennicott, Philip. "At N.Y. event, 'Hide/Seek' curators try to keep art on agenda, but can't avoid culture war". Washington Post. Thursday, December 16, 2010; 10:15 AM
Vartanian, Hrag. "AA Bronson Requests to Be Removed from Smithsonian’s Hide/Seek". December 16, 2010. Hyperallergic.com
December 17, 2010
Bill Donohue: "PRO-ANT CRAWLERS SET TO MARCH", December 17, 2010
- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a demonstration this Sunday protesting the Smithsonian's withdrawal of the video showing ants on the crucifix:
John Killacky: "Censorship . . . at the Smithsonian", December 17, 2010
- John R. Killacky, the new CEO/Executive Director of Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT, speaks out against censorship by the Smithsonian.
December 18, 2010
Silva, Patricia. "Convenient Misinterpretations: The Saga of Wojnarowicz". Open.Salon.com.
December 19, 2010
New York City demonstration against censorship of Hide/Seek by the Smithsonian
- Sunday, December 19. 1:00 PM
- GATHER on the Metropolitan Museum steps
- Fifth Ave. & 82nd Street
- MARCH to the Cooper-Hewitt/Smithsonian FIFTH Ave. & 91st Street
- Organized by Art Positive. Art+ is a New York City-based art action group - fighting censorship and homophobia
- Website: http://www.artpositive.org/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ART-Positive/184468621566656
- Email: info@artpositive.org
- Demands: Stop the Censorship! Put the Wojnarowicz video back!
- Text: Late in November the Smithsonian's head, G. Wayne Clough, did something unconscionable and shocking - he ordered the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC to 'remove' a video by David Wojnarowicz from a museum show called Hide/Seek. Demand that the video be reinstalled now.
- A month into the show's run Clough capitulated to the complaints of right-wing politicians and an anti-gay religious group, and yanked the four-minute piece titled "A Fire in My Belly."
- A New York Times editorial assailed the Smithsonian's "appalling act of political cowardice."
- Is this any way to run a museum?
- The Hide/Seek show is an important, groundbreaking exhibit about sexual identity and we urge you to see what's still on display.
- When he died in 1992, Wojnarowicz, an artist and writer with AIDS, left a body of work about the disease that remains unrivaled for its power and beauty.
- Demand the video be reinstalled now so the public can see the exhibition as the curators intended.
- Stand up for free expression, for art that challenges and even pushes our buttons.
- . . . take collective action for free expression.
School of Visual Arts blog. Fire in Our Bellies, Ants in Our Pants; Dec. 19, 2010
December 20, 2010
Wall Street Journal. Protesters at Met Rally for Artwork; Dec. 20, 2010 [Story also in the print edition with a photo --page 32 of the New York section]
New York Post. NYC 'cross' walk, Protest march over art 'censor'; Dec. 20, 2010
Hyperallergic. Hundreds Attend Wojnarowicz Censorship Protest in Manhattan; Dec. 19, 2010
Advocate.com. New Yorkers Protest Smithsonian Censorship; Dec. 20, 2010
[Story also in the print edition on page 3 with a photo]
Xtra.ca. Hundreds rally against censorship in New York; Dec. 20, 2010
DNAInfo.com. Protest Outside Met Recalls 1980’s Culture Wars; Dec. 19, 2010
Media Bistro. Protests Over National Portrait Gallery Controversy Spread to New York; Dec. 20, 2010
Towle Road. Hundreds March in NYC Against National Portrait Gallery Censorship of Gay-Themed Art Show | ; Dec. 20, 2010
Urban Art & Antique. Report from NY Protest Over Wojnarowicz Video Removal; Dec. 19, 2010
Revel & Riot. 500 Protest Smithsonian in New York; December 20, 2010
Seismologik. teh fire in my b3lly; Dec. 19, 2010
LezGetReal. Protesters Gather In New York To Object To Smithsonian Censorship; Dec. 20.2010
LosAngelesTimes.com. Protesters decry Smithsonian's removal of controversial video; Dec. 20, 2010
December 21, 2010
Capps, Kriston. "Silence = Unprofessional: The Wojnarowicz Panel". Posted Dec. 21, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Green, Tyler. "The second Smithsonian/Wojnarowicz scandal". ArtInfo.com Modern Art Notes.
Romberger, James. "Wojnarowicz’s Apostasy". TCJ.com/HoodedUtilitarian
December 22, 2010
CBC News. "National Gallery seeks advice over Felix photo".
December 23, 2010
December 24, 2010
Capps, Kriston. "Should Smithsonian Secretary Clough Go?" Posted Dec. 24, 2010 at 2:53 pm
December 27, 2010
SLIDE SHOWS:
Count, The . Wojnarowicz Supporters Protest Over Ants & Christ Statue; Dec. 19, 2010
Getty Images. Activists Protest Censorship Of Controversial David Wojnarowicz Art Piece; Dec. 19, 2010
Huffington Post. Protest Over Censorship Of David Wojnarowicz Art Piece; Dec. 20. 2010
NY Mobile News; Dec. 19, 2010
VIDEO:
Report. NYC Protest Against Smithsonian Censorship of David Wojnarowicz Video; Dec. 19, 2010
Timeline to be continued
Sources of Information
ArtPositive.org: New York City Group Organizing to Protest Censorship
SilenceStillEqualsDeath.blogspot.com
Additional Undated Sources
National Portrait Gallery's Official Statement
Petition Against the Censorship of Hide/Seek Exhibition
Continued from:Hide/Seek Timeline: Part 1
Continued at: Hide/Seek Timeline: January 2011
See also:
Jonathan David Katz and David C. Ward: “Hide/Seek", October 30, 2010-February 13, 2011
Timeline: ZAP! Art and the Queer Revolution, 1969-present
Wendy, Sister, and Bill Moyers. Discussing "Piss Christ" by Andres Serrano.
Notes
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