Note from Ron Feldman; Hide/Seek Exhibit: censorship G E N E  And remember: "Art, like the Alamo, has to draw the line somewhere."  ---Gene Elder     From: Ronald Feldman ron@feldmangallery.com National Portrait Gallery: Hide/Seek Exhibit: censorship To: "Gene Elder" <elder4tomato@yahoo.com> Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 12:05 PM Hi Gene,   You asked!  Don’t let them get away with this – they are shifting away from the ants to wanting the whole show taken down.  Keep asking for absolute specifics as to what they don’t like and refute them one by one, but don’t forget the ants.  We are not going to let the Repubs slip out of the news.   Ron     In case you haven’t heard, The Smithsonian has removed one of David Wojnarowicz's videos from the current exhibition “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture.” Wojnarowicz's video “A Fire in my Belly”, which was shortened for the exhibition, momentarily depicts ants crawling on a crucifix.  The video was protested by one of the arch enemies of the arts, Bill Donohue the hateful head of the Catholic League. We have had trouble with him many, many times.  Reverend Donohue has exploited the arts to gain attention with attacks based solely on his interpretation of images.  For example, remember the British Sensation Show at the Brooklyn Museum , when we all rallied against them.  We have discovered the hard way that we must act immediately when these slanderous attacks occur.  There is an article in today’s Washington Post and New York Times (please find links below).  It is now all over the media.  Email your Senators and Congress People that you will not stand for this anymore.  Inundate The Smithsonian with emails at bentleyb@si.edu.   With the help of P.P.O.W, the gallery that currently handles David Wojnarowicz's work, we are making available information concerning what ants mean in the artist’s work, which is very beautiful.  Tonight at the opening of the Miami Basel Art Fair, I will look for more support.     Many organizations are already at work on this.  Big thanks to Media Matters and People for the American Way , among others.     Thanks for adding your voice. Please spread the word.    Best, Ron   New York Times Article: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/national-portrait-gallery-removes-video-criticized-for-religious-imagery/ Washington Post Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113007227.html                     National Politeacal ARt Month July 2011: