More power to the Transformer Gallery, if it is fond of anti-Catholic “art.” It’s owners and supporters and fans and artists can take comfort that they live in a nation where they have the right to public expression.
However, these same people seem incapable of discerning between their right to display controversial art, even art that is in poor taste, and the right of the taxpayers of the United States NOT to pay for their work.
It is one thing for this private gallery to show anti-Catholic art without having to fear that the government will kick in the door and haul them off to jail.
It is something else, entirely, to expect a taxpayer-funded museum to be forced to exhibit the same articles.
According to the recent Associated Press report, “A Washington art gallery pledged a round-the-clock protest Thursday against what it calls censorship by the Smithsonian Institution for removing a video that shows ants crawling on a crucifix after the Catholic League and members of Congress complained it was sacrilegious.
“Transformer Gallery manager Barbara Escobar said the small, nonprofit gallery will show the video piece, ‘A Fire in My Belly’ by artist David Wojnarowicz, in its storefront window every day and night until it’s reinstated at the National Portrait Gallery.
“About 75 people joined a silent protest march Thursday evening to the Smithsonian. They carried pictures of a man with his mouth sewn shut to protest censorship of Wojnarowicz’s art.”
We’ve seen this movement before and, frankly, we are going to continue to see it until the Americans who are offended by anti-religious expressions just give in and allow their tax dollars to support the work.
So far, no one is suggesting that this private gallery doesn’t have the right to display any works it chooses, no matter how offensive they might be.
But we taxpayers don’t have to support this garbage.
— Chuck Smith