New York Art Shuttered After Bush Monkey Portrait
 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A portrait of President Bush (news - web sites) 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."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...rts_monkeys_dc

There is no free speech anymore when it comes to Bush.

Art is supposed to be contraversial.. but depicting leaders in stupid manners such as this has been done too often to really be original.

Now, the Virgin Mary painted with feces! THAT is art!

Elephant dung no less- talk about a sting towards British Imperialism.

what you see is what you get

Well, the owner of the gallery can take down the art if he wants to because it's his gallery. But, no one can be arrested for displaying such art. Don't we remember anything from the American flag incidents???

Isn't it funny
 

For years (8 to be exact) I sat and watch Clinton get laughed at, painted in unfavorable lights, and downright verbally disrespected and people called it freedom of speech, now you can't say two words about Bush without them throwing you in the slammer.

Democracy is dying a slow death people.

Re: Isn't it funny
 

Come on now...you have a right to show what you want in your own gallery. Nobody can just come in and show something you're against. If the guy who I quote in my signature showed up in your home and started hanging up pictures of cross burnings I think you could call the cops too.

Why let this be overblown? Now if the FCC, sons of bitches, under Bush prevented certain programming, which it does, to appear on the airthen people have a right to be upset.

-Rudey

Re: Re: Isn't it funny
 

First I wouldn't let that dude hang up pictures in MY HOME. He'd have to leave and since it's MY HOME, I have the right to show him the front door by any means that I choose.

The owner of the gallery has a right to show what he wants, but to have someone arrested over it? Kinda far-fetched don't you think.

The owner of the gallery was showcasing art and he never said that art "bashing or making light of Mr.Bush" won't be tolerated. So in a since he was letting people "express their ideas". Do you agree teh photo in question warranted hand-cuffs?

Re: Re: Re: Isn't it funny
 

What I think and what you think don't matter. I don't think he was put in handcuffs but if he hadn't left the law could very well have him in handcuffs.

By the way if you're saying it's "MY HOME, I have the right to show him the front door by any means that I choose. " then replace home with gallery and the gallery owner would be in the right just like you.

-Rudey

Re: Re: Re: Re: Isn't it funny
 

Close but there's a difference. I never invited the guy to my house. This guy was invited. The invitation turned sour once the dude unveiled his art. But even the threat of arrest was wrong.

It just seems that you can't criticized or poke fun at this president.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Isn't it funny
 

But the invitation has nothing to do with it. You can invite someone over and then tell them to leave if they do something you don't approve of.

Besides the President had nothing to do with this. The art was about him but this was something between the artist and the gallery owner.

If you can't criticize the president then how come I see so many pictures with Bush looking like a monkey, Bush being made fun of on Saturday Night Live, or my colleague having a calendar with Bush quotes like "Do you have blacks too?"

Our freedoms are still there...for now...

-Rudey

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Isn't it funny
 

First let me say THANKS for making the font a tad bit smaller, it was killing my eyes (if that needed any help).

Ok, I was looking for this, I can really understand in this world where things get a tad bit personal. Do you know what went down b/w the two?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Isn't it funny
 

I made it smaller for now.

I don't know. Not sure if I'm that interested but I figure like everything else in the world it's about money. Have you seen the movie Bad Asssssssssssssss? Well it was sort of a documentary on the making of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and in the end it was 2 movie theatres that were willing to show the movie. Once they found out what the movie was about they wanted to not show it. What made them show it? Money.

-Rudey

I have to see the movie, I really haven't had much time to watch movies as of late. But i will try to peep it.


I agree with you.


Shortfuse agrees with Rudey, now I know there can be peace b/w Isarel and Palastine.