New York Art Show Shuttered After Bush Monkey Portrait

[Dr. Sunil]

> 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."