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Support the National Portrait Gallery!
Those of you who read my blog already know that the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian has come under serious fire from the lunatic fringe of the right-wing. (and you know how strongly I feel about it.)
Here's a brief recap of the situation: republican congressmen - including John Boehner (OH), Eric Cantor (VA), and Jack Kingston (GA) - have been working diligently to get the exhibition "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture" pulled from view. Already they have achieved the censorship of one of the works of art (previously) on display.
I feel that we cannot allow this despicable onslaught to continue.
I urge you to join me in emailing the NPG's director, Martin E. Sullivan, at SullivanM [at] si [dot] edu to express your support for the Gallery, for the exhibition, and for the right to freedom of expression. I also urge those of you who can to email your congressman (or soon-to-be congressman as the case may be) and let them know that you consider the threat of defunding on ideological grounds to be repugnant and contrary to the guiding principles of this nation.
The museums of the Smithsonian have always been particularly vulnerable to political whims via the means of funding blackmail. We need to take a stand against this practice now: it's vile, it's hypocritical, and it's unconstitutional!
Thanks guys!
More information:
Here's a brief recap of the situation: republican congressmen - including John Boehner (OH), Eric Cantor (VA), and Jack Kingston (GA) - have been working diligently to get the exhibition "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture" pulled from view. Already they have achieved the censorship of one of the works of art (previously) on display.
I feel that we cannot allow this despicable onslaught to continue.
I urge you to join me in emailing the NPG's director, Martin E. Sullivan, at SullivanM [at] si [dot] edu to express your support for the Gallery, for the exhibition, and for the right to freedom of expression. I also urge those of you who can to email your congressman (or soon-to-be congressman as the case may be) and let them know that you consider the threat of defunding on ideological grounds to be repugnant and contrary to the guiding principles of this nation.
The museums of the Smithsonian have always been particularly vulnerable to political whims via the means of funding blackmail. We need to take a stand against this practice now: it's vile, it's hypocritical, and it's unconstitutional!
Thanks guys!
More information:
- John Boehner's Next Target: Ant-Covered Jesus (Gawker).
- Ant-covered Jesus video removed from Smithsonian after Catholic League complains (Washington Post).
- Transformer Gallery shows Wojnarowicz video banned by National Portrait Gallery (Washington Post).
- Smithsonian Under Fire For Gay Portraiture Exhibit (NPR).
- Congressman Jack Kingston on Fox and Friends about Natl Portrait Gallery's outrageous exhibit (YouTube). (Note: this video is particularly disgusting; viewer discretion is advised.)