Group protests art censorship at Smithsonian secretary's speech in L.A.
The few protesters outside the Biltmore Hotel Thursday with a poster-board cross and a casket weren’t exactly sure what to do.
They had come to protest the decision by Wayne Clough, secretary of the Smithsonian museum, to remove a controversial piece of art from an exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. Called “A Fire in My Belly,” the piece by artist David Wojnarowicz uses a video filled which strong imagery, such as a sequence with ants crawling on a crucifix.
They wanted Clough to hear their message of the importance of the 1st Amendment and their displeasure with what they see as the frequent censorship of art. But they weren’t exactly sure how or where to best make their point. The hotel has three prominent entrances -- where should they march? Or should they walk through the hotel?
Ultimately, a procession of about two dozen people made a U-shape around the Biltmore. Two women carried the small casket, draped with a printout of a dollar bill -- a reference to another instance of perceived censorship when the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles removed a mural by the street artist Blu that featured coffins draped in dollar bills.
Ellen Sturtz led the procession. With a solemn expression and a measured pace, she carried the white cross, adorned with a cutout of the beleaguered Jesus on the crucifix from Wojnarowicz’s piece.
“It’s about the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression,” said Sturtz, a retired government regulator who’s also active in gay and lesbian causes. Sturtz said that at her age -- 54 -- she’s become more active and less fearful of the consequences. She wouldn’t mind being arrested, she said.
“I don’t want to be silenced,” she said. “There’s too much going on in the world not to get up and say something.”
Hajjar, a retired high school government and U.S. history teacher, said it was important for them to challenge the notion that “it’s OK to undermine the 1st Amendment for political purposes.”
“We’re supposed to be this beacon of liberty and freedom,” he added, “and we have to work to preserve that.”
The group continued their march to the curious looks of passersby. Two police officers followed a few paces behind. The group didn’t make too much of a stir, as they quietly shuffled down the sidewalk.
Clough gave a 20-minute talk for an audience of slightly more than 100 people, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session in which about half the questions, submitted in writing and read by Town Hall Los Angeles President Jon Goodman, were about the removal of the video.
While he spoke, a gray-haired woman called from the back of the room in a not-very-loud voice, “Shame on you for censoring the exhibition.” She was quickly and quietly escorted from the room by two hotel security officers.
About an hour into the demonstration, the protesters made one last walk around before they called it quits. Wells and Hajjar had a lunch to attend, and the small group that was left crossed the street and carried the casket down the escalator down to the Metro station.
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"I don't want" How typical. Its all about you. There was no censorship, the video is being shown in its entirety all around the country. No one has called for it not to be seen, but some didnt like it in a public place. It may have been a bad decision to remove once it was installed, but censorship? Really?
Really got the country and ACLU riled up, didnt it? This is about artistes and their desires to be seen and heard no matter how little they have to say. Get over yourselves.
Go do something useful to our community, raise funding for the Watts Towers and environs, which would truly affect peoples lives in a positive manner.
Proven once again, art collegia delenda est
Fine art colleges must be destroyed.
Posted by: Donald Frazell | January 20, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Fine piece of reporting by LA Times. This "article" report is really in depth when it comes to the issue at hand:
"The hotel has three prominent entrances"
"Center for the Study of Political Graphics -- the group behind the protest "
"Wells and Hajjar had a lunch to attend", read your own report, they were going to the Town Hall!
"the small group that was left crossed the street and carried the casket down the escalator down to the Metro station."
Thank you. Learned so much!
Posted by: Rusty Dulce | January 20, 2011 at 05:48 PM