13 December 2004

Bush monkey portrait sparks protest

It looks like the manager of the gallery found the painting objectionable and had the artist take it down.

Let me tell you something Mr. Savido. This is not a blatant act of censorship. If the government found your painting objectionable and ordered you to take it down, that would be censorship. If the proprietor of a gallery has you take it down for any reason, that would be their right. Maybe they had you take it down because of your lack of originality. Whatever the case may be, get a clue, get an original idea, then find some gallery run by a liberal and hang your crap in it.

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-bred artist said he was happy for all the attention paid to his work but said the decision to shutter the exhibit was "a blatant act of censorship."

"This is much deeper than art. This is fundamental American rights, freedom of speech," Savido said. "To see that something like this can happen, especially in a place like New York City is mind boggling and scary."

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