you shall above all things be glad and young.

For if you’re young, whatever life you wear

it will become you;and if you are glad
whatever’s living will yourself become
Girlboys may nothing more than boygirls need:
i can entirely her only love

whose any mystery makes every man’s
flesh put space on;and his mind take off time

that you should ever think,may god forbid
and(in his mercy)your true lover spare:
for that way knowledge lies,the foetal grave
called progress,and negation’s dead undoom.

I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance

-e.e. cummings

I love e.e.cummings.  I have for years.  I heard this poem, read by Garrison Kellier, while on the road last week.
His work is incredibly special to me.  And this poem, as I drove down I-95, reminded me that I only live once and I should love heartedly and thank goodness for opportunity.  xoxo

The cool thing about having a studio in a Community Art Center is that you get to interact with a lot of like minded people.  Last week, the artists at Banana Factory had a meeting with one of our board members, Ian Summers.  He is a photographer who worked in publishing for  a number of years however, after somewhat of an epiphany, began to approach his art process perhaps more philosophically.  To find out more about Ian check out his website- http://heartstorming.com

He introduced Claes Oldenburg’s Manifesto (pictured above, thanks Angie!) and the idea about us as a collective body of artists to create such a manifesto.  In the end, it will be a collective statement about the BF consciousness.  He suggests starting with one artist and each subsequent artist adding their statement to the manifesto, one after the other.  We are talking about doing it but as you probably know, dear reader, when a group of people plan something together, it tends to take a little longer.

I decided that I was going to begin the process right here and right now and possibly even continue to add to it as I reflect more. It certainly is not going to be as involved as Oldenburg’s…….. yet.
Just stay tuned and see how it builds and even feel free to comment to this posting and add your thoughts.  I’m always so happy to hear from readers.

Here is goes:

I am for an art that asks questions.  I am for an art that with each answer, another question arises.  I am for an art that depicts cogniscent action.  I am for an art that reflects inner turmoils and triumphant resolutions.  I am for an art that understands that beauty is not always beautiful.  I am for an art that consumes me for days, loses me in thought, keeps me awake a night, yet allows me to rest and is an all-encompassing release.  I am for an art that knicks my fingers, scratches my arms.  I am for an art that allows me to peel glue from my fingertips.  I am for an art that finds common ground with universal thought.  I am for an art that transcends language.  I am for an art that helps people in unexpected ways and allows them to honor who they are, what they care about.  I am for an art that creates a future for all involved.  I am for an art that takes me places I never thought I would go.  I am for an art that requires me to solve many problems at once.  I am for an art that makes me cry but with crying much is accomplished.  I am for an art that defines and defends my authentic self.  I am for an art that honors those I care about.  I am for an art that requires me to be brave.  I am for an art that creates moments for people.  I am for an art that has helped me realize who I am and who I am not.

I think it’s safe to say that by hitting 37 years old, one will have experienced personal triumphs and pitfalls.  Those experiences do not define us however- it is what we learn and do with them.  For me, my yuck that was depicted in my art has been evolving and the marks I used to make out of pain and sadness have been transforming. And as the marks morph from one thing to the next, their definition becomes more and more layered and rich with meaning.  I don’t expect people to know that and I don’t require new viewers to be “schooled” in my markmaking to understand what I make. What I do ask viewers is to do is maybe LOOK again at my work.

Looking once 10 years ago and looking now, one sees some very different work.  The pallete and materials maybe similar but the definition has changed- much like how one learns and shapes themselves.  My work is very much about that.  I ask a lot of questions of myself and that process has definitely impacted my work and why I am doing it.  I realize that I do not always ask questions that other people want to consider- and you don’t have to- but recognize that there is a cognizant practice there.

Yesterday, the comment was made to me that I have a very definitive audience.  That perhaps is true but I think the questions I am processing in my work are very universal.  The commenter went on to say that I create from a source of pain and sorrow.  This is where I would like to correct the commenter.  I agreed then because I was in the presence of a group gathered for a different reason.  My work at one time came from a painful source and since I recognize my work is an accumulated process as one piece informs the next- you can say that it began from a painful place BUT please reconsider that where my work is now is a place of introspection, evaluation, and reconstitution.  There is as much deconstruction in my work as there is reconstruction- there is a purpose for that.  And the purpose of deconstruction is that of eliminating the yuck and replacing it with the beautiful.  I think that is something we all want in our lives and in that case, my work is universally human.

Anyone who talked to me yesterday knows that I was jones-ing for a snow day.  Ask and you shall receive, I guess, because here I am at home in my pajamas.  I’m surprised that I have taken to watching the news bright and early in the morning waiting for my school’s name to scroll across the ticker only to have two hours pass by, and I validate this day off with every time my school’s name appears on the screen.  It’s a great feeling.  It’s an unexpected day where you think you will catch up on the pile of work on your desk, and wash the floors, and maybe take down the Christmas tree (did I actually admit to still having it up just now??)

So what am I doing with my day off, you wonder?  Well, with all this extra time, I figured I had extra time to spare and watched an infommercial.  Not exactly what I THOUGHT I would do on my “day off” gift.  So as soon as I talked myself down from buying yet another hair care product, I sit here in my office and consider how to use this day wisely.

Now I could continue to add to my Amazon.com book wish list and pretend that I’m shopping.  I could also sit on my various social media outlets and comment, “like”, follow, and friend everything I can think of.  I could also research recipes of what type of decadent snack I can make from the contents of my refrigerator but somehow, I am afraid that will be too close to me turning into a Cathy cartoon (and I’m pretty close).

What I am really doing is this and I hesitate to broadcast this since it’s still in a germination phase but I am writing a grant.  It’s a big fancypants grant to travel abroad and work with a public around a social or global issue.  For me, I find it important to work with women.  I don’t claim to have all the answers but for me, I have found a sense of personal empowerment within making my work.  And while I have developed an awareness about that over the years, in some of the countries I am proposing to go to (the applicant chooses 3 places)- a woman has provided for the needs of her family through the cottage industry, an art making process in itself and I’m curious about what discoveries they have made about themselves through that process.  It’s a fascinating point my mother made to me last night as we discussed the state of my grant draft and approach.

From the list I am provided, one of the places I am proposing to work in is the Phillippines.  Quite honestly, all the countries I am looking the visit through this grant, I have rather superficial knowledge of (right now).  When someone asked why I am choosing the places I am- many of  my reasons are because of personal experiences I have had with people who are from those countries or have visited such countries….. or I have watched Anthony Bourdain and his experiences in those countries.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love to travel.  I really love learning and experiencing new culture- I learn so much about myself and my own culture when I am removed from it (my own culture, not myself:)

As I have been reading up in preparation to take on draft 3 of my grant.   I have been reading about the Pearl Buck Foundation.  www.psbi.org In case you have been living under a rock for the past 70+ years, Pearl S. Buck wrote The Good Earth which won the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938.  She was the first woman to do so, but in addition to being a gifted novelist, she was an advocate and parent to many orphaned children in Asian countries.  If you read on throughout the Foundation website, you can see the various programming to continue her legacy since her death in 1973.  One would think, a stunning organization like this would be located somewhere on the west coast, or DC, or New York but no, Foundation headquarters is in Perkasie, Pennsylvania- a mere 30 minute drive from here, established on the grounds of her final home.

When I graduated from Tyler, I was fortunate to work my mother- who worked in development and fundraising there- on a project that honored the former Prime Minister Corazon Acquino.  Quite honestly, this small opportunity to meet her and representatives from the Phillippines is what sparked an interest to pursue the Phillippines as an option for my grant but really it is the extra reading I’m doing on both Pearl Buck and the average Filipino woman that makes me think this is a special place to go.

I’ll write more on what the actual grant is in the next coming weeks but for today, since many of you have an unexpected snow day in, read a little more about Pearl Buck and better yet, pick up her novel, The Good Earth, and read it.  Everyone besides me has an iPad/Kindle/Nook, right?  If not, go add it to your Amazon wish list.

Warhol Foundation is to pull all future funding…. Smithsonian implys-”do what you gotta do.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/13/AR2010121305853.html
http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/2010/12/warhol-foundation-threat-was-a-missed-opportunity/

This morning artist AA Bronson has asked to be removed from the the exhibit unless the Wojanowicz video is reinstalled….. It won’t be. Bronson encourages other artists in the exhibit to do the same.
http://hyperallergic.com/14915/aa-bronson-smithsonian-hide-seek/

This is an excellent Q&A with Bronson.
http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/2010/12/qa-with-aa-bronson-on-hideseek-felix/

Many museums, with the New Museum taking the lead, are now showing the Wojanowicz video (Right on!)
http://www.newmuseum.org/assets/general/pressreleases/DW_PRESSRELEASE.pdf

There is a protest march on Saturday to the Cooper Hewitt. Creativity is encouraged!
http://blogs.artinfo.com/artintheair/2010/12/13/march-on-new-yorks-cooper-hewitt-to-protest-smithsonian-censorship/

http://artpositive.org/2010/12/protest-in-new-york-city-sunday-december-19th-100-pm/

Update: I’m getting mixed reports that Smithsonian has stated that the Bronson piece will stay.  They proclaim that they have a legal binding contract with the lending institution(National Gallery of Canada) of Bronson’s work and not with the artist.
http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/2010/12/npg-the-bronson-will-stay-in-the-show/

Per commenter on the “Support Hide Seek” Facebook page,

Often the language in loan/exhibition documents dictate that the work will be displayed and not be removed without “mutual consent” from museum and lender. It seems entirely plausible that if the loan documents can keep AA Bronson from having his work removed because of a binding agreement, then the Wojnarowicz piece may also require mutual consent from the lender for its removal. The Freedom of Information Act should be able to make that document accessible.

If this is the case than the lender has a breech of contract suit waiting to happen. I hope they do it.

Everyone if encouraging PPOW to dig up the Wojnarowicz contract.

Additionally, the Mapplethorpe Foundation is pulling it’s funding from the Smithsonian should the video not be reinstated.

Many are calling for the silent, Secretary of the Smithsonian Wayne Clough to resign.

Here is an article written by Wojnarowicz’s lawyer who defended him 20 years ago.
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2010/dec/16/smithsonians-new-culture-war/

WHAT. A. MESS.

December 13, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact Joel Wachs, President, 212.387.7555

The following letter was sent today by The Andy Warhol Foundation to Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution:

December 13, 2010

Mr. Wayne Clough
Smithsonian Institution
SIB Office of the Secretary
MRC 016
PO Box 37012
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Dear Mr. Clough,

The Warhol Foundation is proud to have been a lead supporter of Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture, but we strongly condemn the decision to remove David Wojnarowicz’s video A Fire in My Belly from the exhibition. Such blatant censorship is unconscionable. It is inimical to everything the Smithsonian Institution should stand for, and everything the Andy Warhol Foundation does stand for.

Although we have enjoyed our growing relationship during the past three years, and have given more than $375,000 to fund several exhibitions at various Smithsonian institutions, we cannot stand by and watch the Smithsonian bow to the demands of bigots who have attacked the exhibition out of ignorance, hatred and fear.

Last week the Foundation published a statement on its website www.warholfoundation.org, condemning the National Portrait Gallery’s removal of the work and on Friday our Board of Directors met to discuss the long-term implications of the Museum’s behavior on the Foundation’s relationship with the Smithsonian Institution. After careful consideration, the Board voted unanimously to demand that you restore the censored work immediately, or the Warhol Foundation will cease funding future exhibitions at all Smithsonian institutions.

I regret that you have put us in this position, but there is no other course we can take. For the arts to flourish the arts must be free, and the decision to censor this important work is in stark opposition to our mission to defend freedom of expression wherever and whenever it is under attack.

Sincerely yours,

Joel Wachs
President

cc:   Ms. Patricia Stonesifer, Smithsonian Chairwoman of the Board
Directors of Smithsonian Institution museums
Board Chairs of Smithsonian Institution museums

And this is even further greatness…. read on:

And due to all the craziness, there is now a website that chronicles the places showing A Fire in my Belly. WWW.HIDESEEK.ORG

And here’s an article update from ArtInfo.com:  http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/36559/smithsonian-fallout-update-an-official-resigns-stephen-colbert-weighs-in-and-wodjnarowicz-shows-abound/

ANNNNNDDDDD… right on Patti Smith!!  Go read her book, Just Kids. It’s about her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe.  If you don’t know who he is, then look’em up!  He was under similar scruntiny in the late 80′s. That’s what I wanna do on Chirstmas break (besides catch up in the studio). http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122582840

This came out a while ago but here is a brief history of censorship.  You can see Mapplethorpe there along with Serrano’s piece that cut funding for the NEA in the late 80s: http://flavorwire.com/133635/art-censorship-controversies-a-brief-history-nsfw

So I’m still so completely out of my mind over all of this.  I’m posting some more articles today from the Support Hide/Seek Facebook page.  What I post is just skimming the surface of what has been documented  out there.  Please join the page.  Now.
http://www.facebook.com/support.hide.seek

I remember way back when during maybe Junior High School when I wore a button on my jean jacket that was against censorship.  I think I kept the button for years and years, sometimes in a drawer and sometimes on a bulletin board.  I think why this is such a hot button for me is first, I grew up in a family where art is valued and perhaps even a way of life.  I was lucky enough to have parents that were not afraid to take their child to the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit that was eventually banned at the ICA in Philadelphia.  And yes, I may have peeked into the private room where all the “naughty” stuff was sectioned off for mature audiences and maybe I didn’t really understand what was happening in those images then (I think I was pretty young) but looking back and now knowing what the images are- there is no reason why such imagery should not have a voice.  So one can say I am open minded and one can say I am a supporter of equal civil rights for all lifestyles.  And some people will disagree with me about that- and you can (but the marginalization of any population is so absolutely abhorrent, I CANNOT understand why, in this day and age, that is acceptable).

But let’s break it down to brass tacks- what is happening here is there is someone who is trying to tell me what I can and cannot say, can and cannot view.  Period.  I don’t like being told what to do.  And I don’t like being told what to say.  AND I do not like to be told how to feel, think, act.  If our First Amendment rights allow us Free Speech, then allow us free speech.  No one said we aren’t allowed to debate, disagree, and even agree to disagree.  I probably will not ever agree with  this conservative standards of (what they consider) acceptable expression (“art is supposed to be beautiful!”) but you know, I should be allowed to still express these thoughts. This is not a police state.

“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 exhibition will remain open, as planned, until Feb. 13, but without Mr. Wojnarowicz’s video. That is not remotely good enough.” -NYT Editorial

So yeah, one can say this issue runs deep.  But really a 12 year old can understand right from wrong- censorship is one of those things that isn’t hard to grasp.  And it makes me absolutely sick that because the conservative right cannot accept the GLBT way of living, that we are to just turn our heads away and ignore that they exist.  This is unjust and it has to stop.

If you haven’t watched the video above, please do and applaud the two protestors- who are not even artists- who were harassed and thrown out of the Smithsonian for life for showing the Wojnarowicz film on their iPad to people at the entry of the exhibit.  I believe that we, as an art community, need to be more angry; expand the dialogue; and DO SOMETHING about the trampling of our rights.  Apathy will get you no where.

THANK YOU MICHAEL BLASENSTEIN AND MICHAEL DAX IACOVONE for doing something.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/arts-post/2010/12/on_sunday_at_around_1.html

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/36533/banned-for-life-the-story-of-the-national-portrait-gallerys-ipad-activist/?page=1

(and geez, why hasn’t the music world stood up for us yet?????  Gaga, Madonna, Eminem- WTF???  Am I crazy but if this were a Taylor Swift album, wouldn’t we be hearing more about the issue??  I don’t get it!!)

Anyway…. here’s more to read- be informed.

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/36532/why-david-wojnarowicz-matters/

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/12/06/katz

And if you want to be absolutely insensed with rage, read this:

http://townhall.com/columnists/PatBuchanan/2010/12/07/naked_men_in_national_museums/page/full/

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
The comments will make you crazy.

Well readers, thank you for reading my post regarding the David Wojnarowicz piece, Fire in my Belly (and muddling through my typos!!  Yikes!). I hope you are keeping up with the issue and I am reminding you that this is horrid thing that we are witnessing.  Over the weekend a Facebook page was started, entitled Support Hide/Seek. If you want to keep up with any of the events, people to contact, or discussions happening nationwide, I suggest that you join this page.  It seems to be very comprehensive.  If you’re not a Facebook-er- well, now is a great time to join, isn’t it?  Here is the link- go “like” it and stay updated.
http://www.facebook.com/support.hide.seek

Today the National Portrait Gallery’s Director, Martin Sullivan released a statement.  It reads below:

Statement on “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture”

“Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” is an exhibition of 105 works of art that span more than a century of American art and culture. One work, a four-minute video portrait by artist David Wojnarowicz (1987), shows images that may be offensive to some. The exhibition also includes works by highly regarded artists such as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Thomas Eakins and Annie Leibowitz.

I regret that some reports about the exhibit have created an impression that the video is intentionally sacrilegious. In fact, the artist’s intention was to depict the suffering of an AIDS victim. It was not the museum’s intention to offend. We have removed the video.

I encourage people to visit the exhibition online or in the building.

Public comments can be directed to National Portrait Gallery PO Box 37012 MRC 973

Washington, D.C. 20013 or npgnews@si.edu

Martin Sullivan Director National Portrait Gallery

And here is an article in the LA Times regarding the situation (it seems we may have similar sentiments).
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-new-smithsonian-20101206,0,6416921.story

Anyway, I urge you to keep up with the current events of the issue; voice your opinion; and even write your congressman or call the wicked Boehner (CALL JOHN BOEHNER!
***(202) 225-4000, (202) 225-6205***).  Names and addresses can be found on the Support Hide/Seek Facebook page.  This isn’t something that should be swept under the rug!  Now, go join the page.

“I imagine what it would be like if friends had a demonstration each time a lover or a friend or a stranger died of AIDS.” -David Wojnarowicz

I know I’ve been la la la-ing about the past few days all spun up in my own world but in my periphery, I’m aware of the deplorable events surronding the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibit Hide/Seek and the late David Wojnarowicz’s work involved in that exhibit.  I decided to gather some of the information I have a condense it here for you to be better informed about the situation and the work in question.  I am frightened at the lack of intelligence and willingness to educate oneself about the artist’s intent or the forethought about the censorship of this work and this artist conveys to our society.  I wish I had said this but when I sat and chatted with Adriano the other about it, he stated (and I paraphrase here)- “the last I checked we were the land of the free, not land of the Conservative Christian.”  I am so truly frightened about the lack of education a substantial amount of our public has regarding race, religon, sexuality, and gender.  If it does not fit within the box of white, Christain, straight, or (shall I go as far to suggest) male- then it seems that their fundamental civil rights are questionably compromised.  I am worried that with such govermental influence regarding art and expression sends a larger message that these lifestyles are not supported and in the larger scheme, not allowed the quality the so deserve.

After the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi, David Wojnarowicz’s work “Someday this kid…” became a profound example the insensitivity our society has against LGBT population.  And thru pulling this piece, done in 1990, out of storage and displaying online and in museums- it seemed an art community rose up, came to the forefront and spoke out to make this stop.  As Wojnarowicz’s piece surfaced, the entertainment community created a number of youtube accessed videos stating “It will get better…”  I this was an important and positive step- and through art and artists, a vast population of people grappling with their demons found hope and much needed support.  One can suggest that the art and entertainment world perhaps saved a few lives.  And I think this is a triumphant moment.

Now the same artist is under fire for using provacative imagery of the crucifix crawled over by ants.  PPOW gallery (yes, the same gallery I visited just two weeks ago) released a statement regarding the work, as they represent Wojnarowicz’s estate.  It reads as follows:

On behalf of the estate, the gallery would like to offer the artist’s words to illuminate his original intentions. In a 1989 interview Wojnarowicz spoke about the role of animals as symbolic imagery in his work, stating, “Animals allow us to view certain things that we wouldn’t allow ourselves to see in regard to human activity. In the Mexican photographs with the coins and the clock and the gun and the Christ figure and all that, I used the ants as a metaphor for society because the social structure of the ant world is parallel to ours.”

The call for the removal of “A Fire in My Belly” by Catholic League president William Donahue is based on his misinterpretation that this work was “hate speech pure and simple.” This statement insults the legacy of Wojnarowicz, who dedicated his life to activism and the arts community. David Wojnarowicz’s work is collected by international museums including the Museum of Modern Art, NY, The Whitney Museum, The Library of Congress, The New York Public Library, The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Reina Sofia in Madrid, Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, etc. Wojnarowicz is also an established writer; his most well known memoirs are Close to the Knives and Memories That Smell Like Gasoline, which are included on many university syllabi.

In 1990 the artist won a historic Supreme Court case, David Wojnarowicz v. American Family Association. The courts sided with Wojnarowicz after he filed suit against Donald Wildmon and the American Family Association, who copied, distorted and disseminated the artist’s images in a pamphlet to speak out against the NEA’s funding of exhibits that included art works of Wojnarowicz and other artists. We are deeply troubled that the remarks, which led to the removal of David’s work from Hide/Seek, so closely resemble those of the past. Wojnarowicz’s fight for freedom of artistic expression, once supported by the highest court, is now challenged again. In his absence, we know that his community, his supporters, and the many who believe in his work will carry his convictions forward.

Here is an interview with Wojnarowicz during the 1990 Supreme court case…. what is eerie is that things don’t seem to have changed a whole lot. (I just watched this for the first time I simultaneously research and write this entry for you):

David Wojnarowicz on arts funding from Kevin Doyle on Vimeo.

At this time the Smithsonian, as we know, has removed Wojnarowicz’s piece from the Hide/Seek exhibit yet US Representative, John Boehner is demanding that the entire exhibit be closed and for the Smithsonian’s funding to be investigated.  http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/11/us_representative_john_boehner.html

Dear reader, this is a gross overstepping of anyone in the government’s jurisdiction.  I strongly believe that as artists, we are recorders of our world as we see it.  When history is studied, we represent the social consciousness of our time.  We are what archaelogists dig up and decifer.  Our culture is forever represented in the things we make, write, record.  As far as I see it, Boehner just devalued a whole contingency of our public and AGAIN devalued and demoralized those who are not fitting within his box of accepted behavior.  It is as bad as the roomate intrusion of Tyler Clementi, the gay bashings that continue to happen, the repeal of Prop 8, and the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy.  Last I checked we have a constitition that  boasts the freedom of speech.  My plea is to allow EVERYONE those fundamental rights.  It’s ok to disagree with them.  No one says you have to like everything you see, read, watch, but it has a right to be there and be represented.  I certainly don’t agree or like everything I see/read/watch but I realize I live in this country and we are permitted a free will (or so I thought).  Below is a great debate I came across on Twitter about the piece in question.

And finally, PPOW put up the video piece that caused the whole ruckus to begin with on their Vimeo channel.  Here it is for you to see for yourself:

A Fire in My Belly from ppow_gallery on Vimeo.

Keep up with the debate and no matter what you think about the work in question, keep in mind that no one has the right to tell you what you can and can not view, watch, or read.  And what I ask of you, Representative Boehner, is to let me make my own decisions about what I think.  I have a feeling they may conflict with your sentiments however I have as much right to my thoughts and opinions as you do.

http://ppowgallery.com/selected_work.php?artist=14

Thank you for everyone in facebook and twitter land who posted articles and interviews.