Still from David Wojanoricz, A Fire in My Belly (1987).
I was driving in my car today, just after sunset on the West Coast. Rushing from Home Depot back to the studio as Brennan and I are putting the final touches on our work in preparation for grad review and open studios this weekend. I was struck with deep sadness and anger when NPR reported that the work A Fire in My Belly, a 1987 video by the late artist David Wojnarowicz, had been removed from the current exhibition "Hide/Seek" after House Republicans derided the work as "anti-Christian" in response to an 11-second image the artist includes in the video of a crucifix covered in ants. Still processing a response. A response is mandated.
Installation including David Wojnarowicz's A Fire in My Belly, UCLA Graduate Open Studios, 2010.
Upate: In response to the National Portrait Gallery incident, Brennan and I screened David Wojnarowicz's A Fire in My Belly (1987) as part of our contribution to the UCLA Graudate Open Studios on December 4, 2011...within four days of the censorship. Special thanks to the Fales Library and Special Collections at New York University for making this screening possible.
-R.K.
