NPG Caves Under Political Censorship: Artists' Rights at Stake

• NPG Caves Under Political Censorship: Artists' Rights at Stake

NPG's exhibit Hide/Seek, featuring portraiture reflecting differences in sexual identity, has risen to sensational levels. Earlier this week, NPG's director pulled David Wojnarowicz's video displaying an ant-covered crucifix under pressure from members of Congress and threats from religious-affiliated interest groups to challenge Smithsonian government funding.

The implications of NPG's decision on First Amendment rights to the freedom of expression are disturbing. The Smithsonian Institution is a symbolic national forum of artistic and cultural expression. While aspects of the current exhibit may be distasteful, disturbing, or even offensive to some, these images are being displayed in the context of reflection, commentary and exploration of a legitimate topic for public discourse. The works (and the exhibit itself) fall squarely within the definition of protected speech under the First Amendment.

WALA speaks out on matters affecting artists, and political censorship strikes at the core of artists' fundamental rights. We will be following this development closely. If anyone is interested in participating on a position paper, please contact Laura Possessky, WALA Board Chair, directly.

More information: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113004647.html