Long Beach artist pulls out of exhibit after paintings are called 'overtly sexual'

A dispute between an artist and her sponsor over whether some of the painter's abstract images of breasts could be viewed as “sexually overt artwork" ended today with the cancellation of the downtown Long Beach public exhibition titled “4 Chambers.”

The display of more than 70 works opened last Saturday and was originally scheduled to run through April. It was sponsored by Phantom Galleries LA, a for-profit community outreach program.

The trouble started after program Executive Director Liza Simone said two of the paintings could be viewed as offensive and they were removed from the exhibit, which is her prerogative as curator, she said. The artist, who goes by her first name, Christiana, demanded that the exhibit of her works be an all-oar-nothing display.

If the paintings with breast images — abstract orange and blue ellipses — were not returned to the exhibit walls at the commercial space along a trendy stretch of Pine Avenue, she would cancel the entire show of her work. In an earlier interview, Simone said her program specializes in work that she believes would be “appropriate for all ages. Anything that could potentially offend somebody we don’t show.”

Christiana, 40, a physical trainer and artist based in Laguna Beach, vehemently denied that there was anything obscene or pornographic about the paintings, which she called expressions of human emotion and form.

Today, as friends helped her dismantle the presentation, Christiana shook her head and said: “I’m still feeling a little confused about what happened here, but I’m glad that this chapter is ending peacefully.”

“At this point,” she added, “I just want to get my work and move on.”

-- Louis Sahagun

Comments

[Christine Le Monde]

Re: Artist, exhibit sponsor face off over abstract nude paintings, February 10, 2009

I would like to thank Louis Sahagun for his coverage of Phantom Gallery’s fiasco surrounding Christiana’s abstract art.

I contacted the Los Angeles Times on Saturday, February 7 after hearing that two of Christiana’s abstract paintings were ordered removed from the exhibit.

Art is about expression. The human form has been a staple subject of translation by fine artists for centuries. The idea that Christiana’s studies of this subject were deemed “overtly sexual” by the gallery’s Executive Producer, Liza Simone would be laughable if it was not so alarming. I am further appalled by the other quotes by Simone.

Would Simone also censor Botticielli’s “The Birth of Venus, ” Manet’s “ Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe, Michaelangelo’s “David,” Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” the “Venus de Milo”… Must I continue?

Further, the comparison of Christiana’s interpretation of the female body with the performance by Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl does more than just border on the ridiculous.

I am frightened by the apparent randomness of the decision-making process regarding “appropriate” art by Phantom Galleries. I believe Ms. Simone owes Christiana a public apology.

Christine Le Monde
Le Monde Art
Los Angeles/Las Vegas

[Edgar Varela]

In light of full disclosure, I have a personal stake in Phantom Galleries LA as I curate a large number of exhibitions all over the county for them. That is disclosure and that is a fact. The trouble I have with the article in the LA Times and with the comments made about the article is that nobody seems to care about the facts. The show was edited just the same as any good curator would do, you pick what you want and you show it. This happens in film, writing and most artistic ventures. Of more than 70 paintings 8 were deemed not to fit the overall feel of the show, including two nudes that were photographic in nature (lets see the LA Times print those). The accusation of censorship is completely ubsurd, when you run your own gallery you show what you want. Period. If the artist does not agree, maybe its not the right gallery for them. This is a complete non-issue and an abuse of the media to further the career of an artist with spectacle. Again, I know the facts, but do they matter? Apparently not to the LA Times writer or the LA Times themselves, what happened to fact checking?

Edgar Varela

Director, Edgar Varela Fine Arts

[Rose Umber]

I am really unsure why Phantom Galleries (Liza Simone) is even involved in the arts in the first place. That's "ubsurd."

I know Thomas Kindkade is activiely looking for exhibition spaces,
so perhaps this is a better fit for her curatorial taste.

Her behavior is far more offensive to Long Beach than a million paintings of abstact nudes could ever be.

Thanks to Louis Sahagun for exposing this sad tale of a powermad bully, and best of luck to Christiana!

Rose
Long Beach