Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:18:55 -0500Subject: Action Alert!From: svetlana mintcheva To: anna-marie oneunheardword@yahoo.comAction Alert!From:
The National Coalition Against CensorshipA recent, troubling incident involving an art exhibition sponsored by the Centro Cultural Aztlan in San Antonio, Texas merits your attention and voice in opposition to attempts to limit artistic expression.A piece by artist Anna-Marie Lopez, initially selected for display in the Centro’s annual tribute to the Virgen de Guadalupe, was rejected shortly before the opening of the exhibition. Ms. Lopez and the lead artist for the show, Anel Flores, who led the Centro’s three-person selection committee, both claim the untraditional viewpoint expressed in the work was the reason for its rejection.In responding to allegations of censorship, the Centro contended that the piece was pulled for reasons of space limitation, not content or viewpoint. However, statements made by Centro officials, as well as the observations of Anel Flores and the artist, make this position suspect. Denise Cadena, the Centro’s Arts Program Manager and a member of the selection committee, stated “in reaching our final decision we considered each piece…keeping in mind community expectations and standards.” In a similar vein, the Centro’s Executive Director, Malena Gonzalez-Cid, was quoted in the San Antonio Current as saying “[w]hen a community sets a standard, it’s going to be a pretty high mark for the Virgen de Guadalupe in this town. I’m going to support that standard.”Who has the right to determine how the Virgen of Guadalupe is presented? Should some of those for whom the Virgen is an important symbol be prohibited from making it their own and expressing their deeply held concerns through it? It appears that the Centro is denying that right to feminist Chicana artists who take the traditional image and re-create it to represent a strong and earthy womanhood. A few years ago, in 2002, the Centro rejected another artist’s digital collage of the Virgen in a floral bikini. The work, by LA artist Alma Lopez, had recently been subject to public outcry at an exhibition in New Mexico. nnThis is not only about one or two works of art. It is about the larger issue of the Centro’s commitment to artistic freedom and their respect for local artists. The Centro has to reaffirm its loyalty to those core values if it is to maintain its position in the community.We urge you to support not only the San Antonio arts community, but artists nationwide, in their freedom to express their ideas, even when those ideas are not popular. Your signature on the attached letter will send a message to the Centro Cultural Aztlan that the choices of a community art center are to serve the whole constituency, not just an orthodoxy imposed by a vocal minority – or even majority. The National Coalition against Censorship has offered to work with the Centro to achieve this goal, but has met only with silence. Now is the time for you to become involved.We hope that we can count on your cooperation in this important effort to protect First Amendment freedoms. You can lend your support by emailing us and requesting to be added as a signatory to this letter, indicating your current occupation, city and state of residence and any arts organizations, if applicable, with which you are affiliated. Please address your email to Svetlana@ncac.org. As this is an urgent matter, we ask that you provide your response by no later than January 31. You can also write letters to the editor of the San Antonio Current or San Antonio Express-News, as well as your own letter to the Centro addressed to:Ms. Malena Gonzalez-CidExecutive DirectorCentro Cultural Aztlan1800 Fredericksburg Road Deco Building, Suite 103 San Antonio, Texas 78201Please go to www.ncac.org/art/related/aml1.jpgto see an image of Anna-Marie Lopez’s work side by side with a traditional image of the Virgen de Guadelupe (www.ncac.org/art/related/aml2.jpg ).Thank you for your cooperation.Letter to be sent to the Centro Cultural Aztlan with your signatures:Ms. Malena Gonzalez-CidExecutive DirectorCentro Cultural Aztlan1800 Fredericksburg Road Deco Building, Suite 103 San Antonio, Texas 78201The recent removal of Anna-Marie Lopez's work from a show at the Centro Cultural Aztlan has shaken belief in the Centro’s real commitment to the representation of a diversity of Chicano voices and has led many in the community to suspect that the Centro is censoring artists’ work.We urge the Centro Cultural Aztlan to affirm its respect for free expression and the integrity of its curatorial vision.Anna-Marie Lopez’s representation of the Virgen de Guadalupe was initially selected for inclusion in the annual tribute to the Virgen. However, it was subsequently rejected with no reason being given. Ms. Lopez and the lead artist for the show, Anel Flores, who led the Centro’s three-person selection committee, both claim the untraditional viewpoint expressed in the work was the reason for its rejection.In responding to allegations of censorship, the Centro contended that the Lopez piece was pulled for reasons of space limitation, not content or viewpoint. However, Denise Cadena, the Centro’s Arts Program Manager and a member of the selection committee, stated “[i[n reaching our final decision we considered each piece. . . keeping in mind community expectations and standards set for this exhibit since its inception 10 years ago.” In a similar vein you, as the Centro’s Executive Director, were quoted in the San Antonio Current as saying “[w]hen a community sets a standard, it’s going to be a pretty high mark for the Virgen de Guadalupe in this town. I’m going to support that standard.” Contrary to the Centro’s insistence that the rejection of Ms. Lopez’ work was based only upon the practicality of space, it seems evident that a more invidious motive was at work and that acquiescence to anticipated public pressure prevailed over sound judgment based upon artistic merit.It appears that this latest incident is not the only example of the Centro’s compromise of artistic expression in favor of public sentiment. Artist Alma Lopez noted that a digital collage of the Virgen in a floral bikini was rejected at the urging of the lead artist for the Centro’s 2002 Virgen show after public outcry at a previous exhibition of the work at the Museum of New Mexico.The non-traditional use of religious imagery often provokes controversy. However, there are many ways to prepare for potential controversy that recognize the free speech rights of artists as well the interests of members of the community who might choose to see the work. For instance, you could place a response book in the gallery and invite the audience to write their impressions, or you could hold a discussion with the artist where different positions could be voiced. You could also put a notice in the gallery specifying that the Museum does not necessarily endorse the ideas expressed in the artwork on display. We believe that these approaches not only show a healthy respect for a diversity of viewpoints but also enhance the Museum’s reputation as a cultural center.During the New Mexico controversy, for instance, in spite of massive community protests, the Museum insisted that its educational mission made it necessary to exhibit work with diverse viewpoints. A town hall meeting was successful in dissipating the tension. The protesters were heard and the museum's integrity as a cultural institution was preserved.Even though some people might call for its removal, art expressing unpopular viewpoints remains constitutionally protected expression. As the director of an art center which receives public funding, you are obliged to follow First Amendment principles which prohibit government officials from discriminating against ideas on the basis of the viewpoint expressed in them.We strongly urge you to adopt a free expression statement and a curatorial selection policy, as well as guidelines for response to objections against specific works. The National Coalition Against Censorship would be happy to help you in crafting these, as well as in holding a discussion panel on artistic freedom and community standards.It is in the best interests of the Centro, its exhibiting artists and its viewing public to promote uncensored access to protected artistic expression regardless of controversy or viewpoint.Cc: Elaine Wolff, EditorSan Antonio Current1500 N. St. Mary’s Street San Antonio, TX 78215Robert Rivard, EditorSan Antonio Express-News301 Avenue E San Antonio, TX 78205
