Whining Artist denied $42,000 tax payer's money to display 'art'

WMTW ^

[chance33_98]

PORTLAND (AP) -- The denial of a federal grant to show off the work of an unconventional artist from Lewiston is raising questions about the role of politics in promoting art and culture.

The Maine College of Art in Portland sought $42,000 for the exhibit by William Pope.L, whose work takes on issues such as class and race.

The National Endowment for the Arts isn't saying why the grant was denied. The NEA had reportedly delayed its decision because of the exhibit's potential for controversy.

Pope.L expressed disappointment and said the decision jeopardizes the exhibit, which was planned for this summer. But he said the good thing is that people now get to know what their government wants culture to be.

The NEA approved eight grants for Maine, bringing the state a total of $143,000 to support poetry, dance, music,
visual arts and literature.
 

[thefactor]

So plan on coming down. As for getting here, I would fly if it is cheap. Or Amtrak, but that takes awhile. If you have trouble with it, maybe check an online ride-sharing site or something. If you have to drive, it really ain't that bad. Just let me know and regardless of whether or not we have a party (looks like we are) we will rage and it will be a blast.

[Quila]

I was talking specifically about the controversy regarding NEA funding of his SM exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery (sorry the date escapes me).

Those pictures were only a small part of the exhibit. You should see the rest -- they're often quite beautiful, not to mention the photographic technical excellence.

[Die Zaubertuba]

Those pictures were only a small part of the exhibit. You should see the rest -- they're often quite beautiful, not to mention the photographic technical excellence.

I'm not a photographer, but I have seen some of his other work and can't deny what you're saying. But I think there's something to chance's comment that "...some may argue that a child molester for example is tainted by that fact no matter how much good work they do elsewhere in life..." (again, not implying Mapplethorpe was a child molester).

The fine line may be in how the individual's experience informs his work. I have no problem listening to Wagner, for example, even though I know Wagner was an anti-semite, since I don't personally see his anti-semitism presented in any of his works.