![]() ![]() However, the public opening of the show at MOCA scheduled for May 21, 2016, is sold out. One way or another, it is highly arguable whether the discussion causing the controversial surroundings over the painting should have been started in the first place. That is the actual reference to the Catholic Church, as Father Jim Curran stated for the WAVY-TV, so he is not even sure if the cutting the ham in the painting means splitting the church or if it refers to something else. When you take a closer look, you will find that the image of Jesus Christ is on the label over the bottle of wine, and the words Mystical Body of Christ in Latin are written over the ham that the girl is cutting. It depicts a girl sitting at a table with her dolls and pets while having a dinner. The painting Rosie’s Tea Party from the artist Mark Ryden which caused all of the discussions, at first sight, doesn’t hold anything controversialwithin itself. Mark Ryden - Rosie's Tea Party, 2005 - Image via What About Mark Ryden's Painting? He states that Donahue’s words might be as much offensive to some Muslims as the painting might offend some of the Catholics. “I wish that it had been a more thoughtful response”, said local priest Jim Curran, as a reaction to Bill Donahue’s words. Well, let’s just say that he overreacted about the issue, so afterward came some other responses from Catholic authorities, which tried to calm down the situation. These were the exact words of Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, which he wrote in his official letter addressed to Debi Gray, director of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art while commenting on the Mark Ryden’s painting. And then, when Muslims complain, tell them that 'art is intended to be controversial'”. “Why not substitute a young Muslim girl in a hijab, wearing a machete around her neck, cutting a piece of ham with the words 'Allahu Akbar' inscribed on it. By that point, Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, entered the ‘battlefield’ and carried the discussion in an unpleasant direction.īill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights - Image via Unthoughtful Response of the Catholic League But then, the Catholic Church interfered with a desire to ban the freedom of expression and put a 'censorship claw' over the art itself. “Taxpayer funds go to maintain a vibrant and diverse cultural sphere that serves all Americans, not just Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals”, her writing says about the issue. That is what Svetlana Mintcheva clearly states in her letter. MOCA should not tailor its programming to promote the views of certain interest groups while suppressing those of others. Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art interior - Image via And then the Catholic Church Interfered. She also added that the government cannot suppress attacks upon a particular religious doctrine, nor can it suppress works of art claimed to be ‘offensive, sacrilegious, morally improper or dangerous’. Anybody is entitled to criticize art in an exhibition, but First Amendment principles bar government officials from discriminating against controversial viewpoints”, Svetlana Mintcheva responded in her official letter. “Contrary to what you appear to believe, government officials are barred from using the power of the purse to discriminate against art based on the viewpoint expressed in it. ![]() At one moment, while he was talking to the press, it slipped his tongue that he might consider reducing the funds because of the possibility of the offending Catholics if the controversial Ryden’s painting gets on display this weekend, as it is planned. What triggered the discussion was a previous statement made by Brian Kirwin of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, which contributes grant money to the museum. Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art exterior - Image via Government’s Discrimination against Art And what was the reason for sending it? Another discussion about the Mark Ryden’s painting Rosie’s Tea Party, which is about to be presented at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) as part of an exhibition by Hi-Fructose, a California-based magazine, and which, allegedly, contains religious imagery that has offended some Catholics. Briefly, this is what Svetlana Mintcheva, director of programs with the National Coalition Against Censorship in New York, wrote in her official letter addressed to Ben Loyola and Brian Kirwin of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission. ![]() The government shouldn’t play with censorship like that, and it shouldn’t even consider the option of silencing those with whom they disagree with. It is okay to hold different views on politics and religion, but it is not okay to use the announcement of funding cuts as a threat, just because you don’t like the art piece you are seeing. ![]()
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