Museum director pulls controversial exhibit

November ‘99

 

By: A.J. Dickerson

Of the Associated Press

 

 DETROIT – The Detroit Institute of Art’s new director pulled an exhibit three days after it opened because he feared it would offend blacks and Christians.

            The multimedia exhibit included a Jesus figure wearing a condom in a bathtub, and one piece whose title had a racial epithet, Graham Beal said Monday.

            “I was concerned it would cause serious offense,” he said.  “I felt strongly I could not defend a couple of the pieces.”

            Part of a series called “Art Until Now,” the exhibit had opened last Wednesday, although the artist, Jef Bourgeau of Rochester, was still working on finishing touches Thursday.

            The exhibit, which also featured a vial of urine from Andrew Serrano’s highly publicized photograph of a crucifix submerged in urine, had been accepted by a curator two years ago, when the museum had no permanent director.

            “A couple of the pieces were surprises,” said Beal, who became museum director seven weeks ago.

            He first saw the exhibit Thursday and closed it Friday – and said he was postponing it.  He said he hadn’t realized the exhibit had already been opened to the public.

            Bourgeau said shock art intends to make people think.

            “Part of the power of the work … is to evoke discussion,” he said.  “They’re trying to avoid controversy.  They wouldn’t reason with me. They padlocked the show and then pretended I wouldn’t negotiate. There was nothing to negotiate once the show was closed.”

            Beal said to Bourgeau was asked to change the display but wouldn’t.  The artist said he was willing to make some changes, but was never given the chance.

            Topics such as religion, race and sex rouse emotions that can make rational debate difficult – evoking not discussion but blind outrage, Beal said.

            “These are very delicate issues,” he said.  “This should not in any way be construed as an attack on artists.”

            A museum curator said the exhibit would be postponed so staff could discuss which pieces were wanted, Bourgeau said Monday.

            “I said, ‘You’re going to edit out things you don’t think are safe.’ And I said, ‘I can’t agree to that. I knew it was never going to reopen anyway.’”