The critic on the block:
Feminist art in Milwaukee
Hannah Yale
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: A&E
Heding lightly edited the original text by replacing all the masculine pronouns referring to the husband with feminine ones. Juxtaposed with Polaroid photos of men doing chores, it is obvious that the artist intended to flip the male and female roles in marriage and relationships.
Overall, aesthetically, the show was a success. The artists brought to light many feminist issues that are often written off as insignificant or irrelevant in today's society through thoughtful and beautiful works.
To my shock and disappointment, over half the show had been taken down after I went back for a second look at the particular pieces. All the images with nudity were removed after the opening, including my favorite photograph of the show depicting a nude, female mother-earth figure. To a point, I understand a tenant's resistance to seeing some of the shocking images of male and female nudity, but it raises an interesting question of censorship in the arts. Is it fair to require artists to change or censor their work in order to be shown? It seems obvious that, since a curator of such a show should be aware of both the content of the show and the limitations of the space in which it is to be displayed, someone chose either the wrong venue for "Rouge" or the wrong exhibition to show at Kunzelmann.
The show is currently running through March 26 and is available from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Overall, aesthetically, the show was a success. The artists brought to light many feminist issues that are often written off as insignificant or irrelevant in today's society through thoughtful and beautiful works.
To my shock and disappointment, over half the show had been taken down after I went back for a second look at the particular pieces. All the images with nudity were removed after the opening, including my favorite photograph of the show depicting a nude, female mother-earth figure. To a point, I understand a tenant's resistance to seeing some of the shocking images of male and female nudity, but it raises an interesting question of censorship in the arts. Is it fair to require artists to change or censor their work in order to be shown? It seems obvious that, since a curator of such a show should be aware of both the content of the show and the limitations of the space in which it is to be displayed, someone chose either the wrong venue for "Rouge" or the wrong exhibition to show at Kunzelmann.
The show is currently running through March 26 and is available from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
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