- Keith Haring's "unfinished painting"
["Hide/Seek"] is the first major museum exhibition to focus on sexual difference in the making of modern American portraiture. "Hide/Seek" considers such themes as the role of sexual difference in depicting modern America; how artists explored the fluidity of sexuality and gender; how major themes in modern artâespecially abstractionâwere influenced by social marginalization; and how art reflected society's evolving and changing attitudes toward sexuality, desire, and romantic attachment.
"Hide/Seek" was censored after one religious bigotâWilliam Donohueâclaimed that one piece in the show, David Wojnarowicz's "A Fire in My Belly," was "anti-Christian." It was a bullshit charge but Wojnarowicz's piece was pulled from the exhibition after Congressional Republicans, having just taken the House, made noises about cutting off the Smithsonian's funding (prelude to GOP efforts to defund NPR and Planned Parenthood).
We can't let the bigots win. We can't let "Hide/Seek" be censored a second time. People who support free expressionâand people who support queers and people who support free expression by queersâneed to make their voices heard NOW. Please send an email to TAM expressing your support for bringing "Hide/Seek" to Tacoma by clicking here. There's also a Facebook page where you can express your support for bringing "Hide/Seek" to Tacoma.
I saw "Hide/Seek" when I was in Washington D.C. earlier this year. My thoughts about the show are here. My thoughts now: "Hide/Seek"âthe complete showâdeserves a second exhibition.
Email TAM now to tell them you support their efforts to bring "Hide/Seek" to the saner, less censorious Washington andâjust as importantlyâthat you plan on seeing "Hide/Seek" while it's in Tacoma. Last time the bigots managed to get one piece yanked. This time they're trying to get the whole show yanked. Don't let 'em. Email TAM now.