Subject: New York Art Show Shuttered After Bush Monkey Portrait
From: er (Barrel)
Date: 12/15/2004 6:20 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

http://www.newsfrombabylon.com/index.php?q=node/4712

New York Art Show Shuttered After Bush Monkey Portrait

Associated Press/Larry Fine | December 14 2004

A portrait of President Bush using monkeys to form his image led to the
closure of a New York art exhibition over the weekend and anguished
protests on Monday over freedom of expression.

"Bush Monkeys," a small acrylic on canvas by Chris Savido, created the
stir at the Chelsea Market public space, leading the market's managers to
close down the 60-piece show that was scheduled to stay up for the next
month.

The show featured art from the upcoming issue of Animal Magazine, a
quarterly publication featuring emerging artists.

"We had tons of people, like more than 2,000 people show up for the
opening on Thursday night," said show organizer Bucky Turco. "Then this
manager saw the piece and the guy just kind of flipped out. 'The show is
over. Get this work down or I'm gonna arrest you,' he said. It's been kind
of wild."

Turco took the show down on Saturday and moved the art work to his small
downtown Animal Gallery. Calls to the management of Chelsea Market for
comment were not returned.

From afar, the painting offers a likeness of Bush, but when you get closer
you see the image is made up of chimpanzees or monkeys swimming in a marsh.

Savido, 23, said he was surprised by the strong reaction to his painting,
listed in the catalog at $3,500.

"It seems like people got a kick out of it," Savido said. "When they
really see it, they almost do a double-take. I like to get a reaction from
people."

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-bred artist said he was happy for all the
attention paid to his work but said the decision to shutter the exhibit
was "a blatant act of censorship."

Savido plans to auction the painting and donate proceeds to an
organization dedicated to freedom of expression.

"This is much deeper than art. This is fundamental American rights,
freedom of speech," Savido said. "To see that something like this can
happen, especially in a place like New York City is mind boggling and
scary."

_________________________________________________ ____
Nein Art!
Nein Books!
Nein Thinking!
Nein Election!
Nein Dissent!
Nein Freedom!


Disgusting..

God Bless Der President !