Creative swearers looking for clever new religious blasphemies to utter might try this one on for size: "Good Christ in a condom!"
You'd think Christ in a manger would be more topical this time of the year, but no. That's because the Detroit Institute of Arts this past weekend padlocked and cancelled an exhibit of modern art because some might view it as offensive. One of the pieces considered offensive was a bathtub Jesus with a doll wearing a condom and a video of a weoman menstrating.
Guides at the museum politely explained to patrons that the show, which explored some of the most shocking art of the decade, was cancelled.
"You can't ignore it," said the exhibit's artist, Jef Bourgeau. "The '90s is about shock. What is disappointing is that there have been no complaints and they closed it down."
DIA spokeswoman Annmarie Erickson told The News: "The museum has a responsibility to the artist and an even greater responsibility to the public."
Visitors, however, were disappointed at the locked halls and criticized Graham Beal, who began as the museum's director seven weeks ago. Beal's first official act was to cancel the exhibit, which had been in the works at the museum for two years. Beal defended his decision to lock the public out of the controversial exhibit.
Beal specifically targeted two works in the exhibit, one as "racial," the other as sacrilegious." Several DIA board members, as well as Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, said they supported Beal. None had seen the show, mounted by artist Bourgeau, which opened last Thursday. Beal closed the exhibit Friday, saying it would "cause offense to important parts of our community."
Beal said he closed the show because he thought it best for the institution. "I didn't enjoy closing the show," he said. "It was not a happy moment for me." Beal said the decision was entirely his. Bourgeau called it "censorship."
Former DIA director Sam Sachs II, director at the Frick Collection in New York, said Beal's decision is troubling. "It ... should worry people that freedom of expression is under attack," he said.
A DIA spokeswoman said that 20th century art curator MaryAnn Wilkinson had seen pieces of the installation before its opening. When she viewed the entire exhibit, she realized some of the pieces could cause offense, and alerted the director.
