Published: Jul 22, 2005 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - An art gallery director says she was fired for talking on television about a sexually explicit caricature involving President Bush, an Arab sheik and a barrel of oil.
Posted on 07/22/2005 7:04:34 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
Florida Art Director Fired After TV Discussion of Graphic Work on Bush
Published: Jul 22, 2005 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - An art gallery director says she was fired for talking on television about a sexually explicit caricature involving President Bush, an Arab sheik and a barrel of oil.
Susan Buzzi was the Broward Art Guild's executive director and had worked with its gallery for more than 10 years.
Buzzi and Alfred Phillips, who painted the piece, were among several people interviewed by comedian Ed Helms in a spoof news report of the art controversy on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" several weeks ago.
Buzzi said she was told Wednesday that her "services are no longer required" at the gallery.
"I certainly didn't expect this," she said Friday as helpers scooped up belongings and loaded them into a waiting car.
Guild board members assured Phillips that Buzzi's firing had nothing to do with exhibiting his work or appearing on the comedy show.
"However, I think the board members used poor judgment in their timing," he said. "It gives the appearance that censorship is alive and well."
Julia Andrews, the new president of the guild's board of directors, declined to discuss the reasons for Buzzi's dismissal.
The graphic painting was selected for the gallery by an outside consultant and was sold following the May exhibit.
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On the Net: http://www.browardartguild.org
AP-ES-07-22-05 2134EDT
Vulgar anti-Bush, mixed-media painting by Florida artist Alfred Phillips. On display as part of the the Broward Art Guild’s annual “Controversy” exhibit.
Yes, to brainy liberals "censoorship" isn't when the government keeps you from publishing or displaying something. No. "Censorship" is what happens when anyone decides what you've done is inappropriate garbage.
Where'd you find that picture?
Painting triggers controversy in local art show
A Broward Art Guild exhibit titled “Controversy” created just that with the inclusion of a painting by Alfred Phillips that depicts President Bush being sodomized.
The show features art that makes social or political statements, but another artist in the show complained to Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Becht about the piece, the Sun-Sentinel reported May 27. Becht then contacted guild Director Susan Buzzi, and the piece was subsequently moved to a less prominent location in the show. Buzzi said Becht reminded her that the county contributes to the guild’s annual budget.
According to the article, Becht denied that she requested the relocation and said she only placed the call to discuss the guild’s policy on displaying explicit art.
The painting, titled “Yahoo!,” is now in a corner of the guild’s gallery, 530 N.E. 13th St., Fort Lauderdale. The show runs through June 13.
Now we know where Alfred Phillips' 'tastes' lie.
Someone educate this idiot Liberal that censorship is when the government quells freedom of speech! The government had no hand in this.
And another thing: why is it that when Liberals can someone for saying something they don't like, it's "exercising their rights!" but when the same thing happens to them, it's "censorship!"?
Talk about hypocrisy.
Michael Friedman, the artist who complained to the county, said the painting is offensive and tasteless.
"Something snapped inside," he said. Friedman himself entered a piece depicting Pope Benedict XVI with several swastikas in the background.
"Sodomy in a public forum is not, from my perspective, considered art," he said. "I think somebody has to draw the line somewhere. I like political satire. However, that type of image ... I don't think is artistic."
The exhibit's organizers accepted the Bush painting into the show, saying there was a relevant political message, Buzzi said. The show includes about 45 pieces of art that generally make some kind of social or political statement. Another piece depicts Bush dressed as the Statue of Liberty and holding a tablet with a swastika on it. Yet another piece shows two American soldiers carrying a dead body into a car.
where's cadmus when you need him. now there's a guy who knew from controversy.
Self Ping.
Makes the CA Attorney General's 'art' look almost classy.
They must be working with Greenpeace, who has a similar video sex smear of Bush and Blair. I expect this thread to last about 5 minutes, mine was immediately pulled, even though it needed to be posted so people can see.
People really don't have to see. It's just infantile stuff. Moronic. I've seen better concepts over truck stop urinals, though not in mixed media (thank god).
"I certainly didn't expect this," she said Friday as helpers scooped up belongings and loaded them into a waiting car.
Morons never do. Glad you got fired!
You want to see censorship? All you have to do is match the tripe coming from these leftists with the equivalent starring some of their revered icons.
Castro, Clinton(s), Kennedy, et al.? They would make great subjects for obscene art. Problem is--folks on the right have some class, and wouldn't (and shouldn't) stoop that sort of thing.
Hey Buzzi. Blow it out yer butt.. Hope you stay unemployed a very long time.
All "liberals" should be strapped down and forced to memorize Godwin's law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
Sheesh.
At least be *original* in your ad hominem attacks....;))
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law
Link went weird on me.
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