RSS News Feeds

Top News
Arts & Living
What is RSS? | All RSS Feeds

Smithsonian removes controversial art

ABOUT THIS STORY |  On Nov. 30, 2010, officials at the National Portrait Gallery removed a work of video art by David Wojnarowicz that included a segment depicting Christ with ants crawling over him. A Catholic organization and members of Congress complained. The decision to remove the exhibit drew outrage from the arts community.

smithsonian
Clockwise from top left: A scene from "Fire in My Belly," artist David Wojnarowicz, museum director Martin Sullivan, Rep. John A. Boehner and protesters of Smithsonian's decision.
Art review: David Wojnarowicz's 'Spirituality' at PPOW gallery in New York
"A Fire in My Belly," the David Wojnarowicz video seen briefly at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, recently reappeared in its natural habitat, hanging beside his uncensored works in the artist's longtime New York gallery, PPOW.
 
National Portrait Gallery's 'Hide/Seek' visitors register their reactions (Post, February 10, 2011; 7:21 PM)
 
"Hide/Seek" visitors register their opinions (washingtonpost.com, February 10, 2011; 6:29 PM)
 
Smithsonian regents support secretary's censorship decision (Post, January 31, 2011; 9:27 PM)
 
Smithsonian secretary defends removal of controversial video (Post, January 19, 2011; 12:00 AM)
 
MoMA purchases crucifix video that was removed from Portrait Gallery exhibit (Post, January 13, 2011; 8:17 PM)
 
D.C. cultural scene adopts new trends in food, fashion, arts, entertainment (Post, December 30, 2010)
 
Who's at fault in the Smithsonian's 'Hide/Seek' controversy? (Post, December 28, 2010; 8:13 AM)
 
Arts censorship on a slippery slope (Post, December 28, 2010; 8:12 AM)
 
Be clear when you talk about 'Christian activists' (Post, December 24, 2010; 4:58 PM)
 
Commentary: After removing video from 'Hide/Seek,' Smithsonian chief should remove himself (Post, December 23, 2010; 8:07 PM)
 
Protesting video's removal, artist asks Portrait Gallery to take his work out of show (By Blake Gopnik, December 17, 2010; 12:43 PM)
 
At N.Y. event, 'Hide/Seek' curators try to keep art on agenda, but can't avoid culture war (Post, December 16, 2010; 10:15 AM)
 
Artist asks to withdraw work from exhibit in protest (washingtonpost.com, December 16, 2010; 9:38 AM)
 
Warhol Foundation threatens to cut Smithsonian funding over censored video (Post, December 13, 2010; 6:56 PM)
 
'Fire' man: Wojnarowicz, censored by Smithsonian, sounded an alarm in dire times (Post, December 10, 2010; 12:59 AM)
 
Smithsonian deals with fallout over David Wojnarowicz video controversy (Post, December 9, 2010; 8:14 PM)
 
After Smithsonian exhibit's removal, banned ant video still creeps into gallery (Post, December 6, 2010; 9:24 PM)
 
The Post's odd view of what is art: OK with insects on Christ, not OK with Norman Rockwell (Post, December 5, 2010; 7:37 PM)
 
Crucifix and controversy at the National Portrait Gallery (Post, December 4, 2010; 10:44 PM)
 
Demonstrators gather to protest removal of Wojnarowicz art from National Portrait Gallery (Post, December 3, 2010; 12:26 AM)
 
Artists from all faiths, including Muslims, challenge religious assumptions (By Blake Gopnik, December 2, 2010; 9:28 PM)
 
Editorial: Undue political pressure on a portrait gallery (Post, December 2, 2010; 9:23 PM)
 
Transformer Gallery shows Wojnarowicz video banned by National Portrait Gallery (Post, December 1, 2010; 10:33 PM)
 
Reaction to National Portrait Gallery's ants-and-crucifix controversy (By Blake Gopnik, December 1, 2010; 10:23 PM)
 
More News
© 2010 The Washington Post Company