a discussion in San Diego

Last night I attended a panel discussion

Under Wraps

Controversy and Art in Public Spaces – a discussion

Expressive Arts Institute

2820 Roosevelt Road, Ste. 204 

San Diego, CA 92106

Panelists

Ann Berchtold

Co-Founder/Director - ART SAN DIEGO Contemporary Art Fair

Wes Chester

Expressive Arts Therapist, Co-Director – Expressive Arts Institute

Curator – Martha Pace Swift Gallery

Scott B. Davis

Director of Exhibitions and Design

Museum of Photographic Arts

Kinsee Morlan

Arts & Web Editor – SD CityBeat

Anna Stump

Artist – San Diego

Alan Ziter

Executive Director – NTC Foundation

More panelists to be announced

Introduction

Kevin Freitas

Moderator

Katherine Sweetman

I really appreciated the fact that both sides of the issue where represented. 

The decision made by Alan Ziter (to not allow the exhibit of the large nude paintings by Anna Stump) looks as if it was made out of fear from an unknown. It looks as though he was afraid there would be complaints and was not willing to chance this. This is understandable, who in there right mind wants to spend any time listening to someone go off about something they don’t like.

Ann Berchtold told the story have having to take down a painting by Raul Guerrero at L Street Gallery (Kinsee Morlan blogs about it). And I can understand why the Omni Hotel wanted to placate to the organization, it’s business, and they cannot afford to loose a convention (small or large), no one can loose business these days. And as artists do we want to be so arrogant as to expect this.

But it was Scott B. Davis’s story about working with an artist, to come up with a solution, in dealing with the issue of what is appropriate to exhibit (real or perceived), that was inspiring. The idea that people (artists, curators, community members, business, etc), can come together and work out a solution is what I hope people will take away from the discussion last night.

Maybe if people can take a breath, step back, take a peak at all sides, maybe then they can get together to figure out how to make it all work, for all parties.