Out in the Mountains Repression of ART by Jim Roche The following column addresses the federal government's restriction of funds to the National Endowment for the Arts based on two artists’ works. Andres Serreno for his depiction of a crucifix in a jar of urine and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe known for his portraits and for photos containing homoerotic images and over- tones. Jesus in a jar of piss? Well, I’ll admit it’s hard for some to defend, but believe me, we as a community and as individuals had better defend it. Regretfully the gay com- munity doesn't seem to realize yet that this threat Jesse Helms has made to art through his punitive legislation isn't just limited to curtailing the freedom of speech of artists. It’s a direct attempt to establish a national code of decency which, in Helms’ own words, would restrict funding to any or- ganizations that “promote, disseminate or produce obscene or indecent materials, including but not limited to depictions of sadomasochism, homoeroticism, the ex- ploitation of children, or individuals en- gaged in sex acts; or materials which deni- grate the objects or beliefs of the adherents of a particular religion or nonreligion.” In other words: any museum, gallery, arts, dance, theatre or similar program that gets federal funds would have to ask itself if whatever project it is involved with pro- motes or disseminates homoeroticism. If it did, or mightbe seen to, is it worth the risk? There are a lot of questions here: what is art? Should the govemmentbe involved in the arts? Who makes these decisions? But all of them can be put aside because it comes down to this: few arts programs would exist without some federal aid and if your aid is threatened because of your pro- gram’s connections with homosexuality, homosexual art, artists, directors, themes, topics and sensibilities then your whole program is threatened. If only on program is hurt by this legislation the result is cen- sorship for all. Fear will see that Jesse Helms has found yet another weapon to use against his favorite target. This time, unashamidly, the rest of congress, a good portion of the American public and even some conservative religious gays and lesbi- ans, are following along. The answer to why Helms finally chose to attack the endowment is clear. Art has always been seen as a hiding place for homosexuals and what has become known as “gay sensibility.” There are homosexu- als everywhere in the arts, in opera, dance, painting, music, sculpture. Besides being a safe haven for homosexuals it's also a launching point for homosexual sensibili- 14 ties to make their way into mainstream culture. The arts are where we are often at our best because we can be ourselves and where we can, to some extent, say who we are without fear of retribution. Try to find a play on Broadway that isn’t either written, directed, produced or for teh most part acted out by gay and lesbian people. You won’t find many. Go to a museum and try finding a gallery without works by gay men or lesbians or works without homoerotic overtones. That's not too easy to do. And Helms, I suppose, is just fed up with all this “queer art.” Maybe we could get rid of all social realist paintings and poverty wouldn’texist either? Censorship of reality has never worked. Helms is worried about the breaking down of what he calls western culture and the destruction of the American family. The weakening of religion. He sees people like Andres Serneno and Robert Mapple- thorpe as two artists who want to do just that. The battle between the mainstream culture, the status quo, and the input of artists and the threat they represent to that status has gone on for a long time. We are again fighting that battle. Sure, two small exhibits don’t matter much. These anists wiH be picked up by other museums and galleries that won’t use federal funds. Look at what happened to Mapplethorpe’s retro- spective, the censorship by the Corcoran only led to more people seeing the show than ever would have. Well, it’s not that n\ s‘ I’ § E Q 1-to,.~y,\.L @@0:ltlt:i@ Q‘? lift"... ‘6 ©«‘u?®@Gc2 Illl°[l9B9 ls‘JJli\'iPll®[?~’llR\E. @@D€llll:’l© @695? We 0 o t Become an |lIll|V|lI|l8| S|l0ll80l' t by conrributing’550. H00. 5250. 5500. or morn. lend your name BBGOIIIG I 3ll0l|80l‘|I|!I Ilfflflllllflllllfl I} by contributing S100. 5150. $500 or more. lend your name wear an I600 T-Slllrl CIIo(wfltel0o¢deryo