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News & ArtsWednesday, October 14, 2009
Visual Art The Troublesome Penis
Posted by Jen Graves on Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 10:55 AM
It feels like this same dull event will never stop happening in art in America.
As you are aware, Seattle has finally attracting creative talent from around the nation and an emerging art scene is finally taking shape after years of stagnation. And Georgetown itself is seeing a renewed vitality and finally coming into its own as a gallery scene, and not just a place where washed-up hipsters drank their dreams away.Last week, the 24 Karat Gallery, which has been operating in Georgetown for 4 years opened a new exhibit by local artist Michael Phillips. Michael's art has been a fixture in Seattle for over a decade, primarily in "designer" homes, but you can see an example of it hanging above the fireplace at Barca Lounge. It is fine art: pretty and innocuous, and primarily figural.
But this latest exhibit is causing an uproar in Georgetown with people storming out of the gallery screaming they will never return, and threats to call the police because because of one not-so-small penis on a very muscular man that can be seen from the street through the window of the gallery. This story- of "pornography vs art" is important because Georgetown is gathering so much energy lately as the unofficial artist quarters of Seattle, where one expects artists to be free to express themselves, free from the commercial attitudes, and create art that is allowed to be controversial.
Naturally, most people are not offended by a penis. And certainly, the painting itself is exquisite. It has been hanging in a Lake Washington waterfront home, in the living room of a very successful Seattle businessman. The 24 Karat Gallery has made its name selling exclusive, high-end decor to the design industry, and sees the piece as in-offensive as any other figural male art. But something is happening in Georgetown: Controversy!
Perhaps this is only worth a mention for the humor of it all, but it could be worth examining the value of the repressed public's opinion in a time and place where an emerging art scene is on the cusp of becoming a core component of our city. Do we want to continue to have a bland art scene like the one found in Pioneer Square that has dominated us for years? Do we send the artists who have come to Seattle back to more open minded environments? Does Seattle really want a fertile arts scene and are we really as sophisticated as we think? The gallery, undeterred, but bewildered by the enormity of the response has decided that the only way to deal with a Victorian mentality is with a Victorian solution: a literal fig leaf over the offending member.
I have included a photo of the offending painting, although not a professionally shot one, im afraid, but it will give you an indication of the insanity of this controversy.
Clarification: The above text is by J. Michael Phillips, the artist.
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Body parts: We all have them.
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FUCKING CHOKE ON THAT. GIMME A BREAK. ETX. DUNNO, KITTY THINKS THAT ART HAS WAYYY MOR INTERESTING PLACES TO BE THAN RANDOM LAM´E INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT LIK ERRYWHERE ELSE WIT COMPARABLE CHEAP (NOT FURR LONG) PRICES. JUS LIK' WILLIAMSBURGH OR TRASHTOWN, SEATTLE IS WHITE HATE AND BROKEN SPACES AND SO MUCH WHACKNESS
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I mean, visible penises hurt people, right? Like a cockatrice - don't look at it or you're fucked! In the eye!
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seriously: They even used the same golden-skinned model
Are there really people in the world who visit galleries and STORM OUT, threatening to NEVER RETURN? That sounds more like people who KNEW it was there wanted to create a fuss.
The "controversy" could be solved by simply putting the painting on a wall that does not face the street.
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What I take issue with, however, is the comment that the Pioneer Square scene is "bland." I'd suggest that this is where you'll find the best galleries in the city (Kucera, Person, Foster/White, etc).
By comparison, a stroll through Georgetown's galleries often reminds me of Bad Day in Craft Class.
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Made that way by fear of lawsuits pushed by people with very, very earnest beliefs about gender issues in the workplace...
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Oh, warning - there are nudes there too - get over it.
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also, LET them call the police; in fact encourage them to call the police...no laws are being broken here and the added free publicity would be great.
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and, 24 Karat Gallery doesn't have a website? WTF? There's no excuse for any business, esp an arts based business to not have a website or at least a blog or facebook/myspace page.
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and refers to himself in the third person?
this is a press blurb, not news...
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Everybody- expose your children to penis art before they grow up to be prudes with nothing better to complain about.
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