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in support of free expression
The information presented here by the National
Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) may be freely redistributed in its entirety,
provided that readers are informed that the information was obtained from
NCAC's World Wide Web site and that credit is given to the appropriate source
of whatever information is used. Permission is expressly granted for the information
obtained to be made available for file transfer from installations offering
unrestricted anonymous file transfer on the Internet. Information found here
may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without
the written permission from the National Coalition Against Censorship.
©Copyright 2005 NCAC
WEB DESIGN
Jeanne Criscola Criscola Design
free speech first amendment censorship
Political Satire Out!
After a Chelsea Market manager saw "Bush Monkeys," a small acrylic
on canvas by Chris Savido, he closed down the whole 60-piece
show, which included the work. From afar, "Bush Monkeys" looks
like a portrait of President Bush, but when you get closer
you see the image is made up of monkeys swimming in a marsh.
The Chelsea Market public space in New York has hosted many exhibitions; as a private space it remains free to pick what art is to be shown there. However, freedom from the imperatives of the First Amendment, does not entail freedom from the court of public opinion. As often happens the removal of Savido's presidential portrait gave the work much more publicity that it might otherwise have had and exposed Chelsea Market to a fair dose of anger. To many of us the incident reveals a sinister pall of unease regarding any criticism or satire of George W. Bush. After September 11 dissent was labeled betrayal, now we can't even laugh at a bunch of monkeys used to outline the president's face. That, of course, makes all of us objects of ridicule in all the countries where the incident was immediately publicized—from South Africa, to India and Australia.
Chris Savido's Bush Monkeys is being auctioned off with 25% of the proceeds going to NCAC. Click here for auction info.
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