Too controversial for Honolulu?
A work by Ian Gillespie.
Censored show reopens
By Nadine Kam
Star-Bulletin"Shaka Da Nu," an art exhibition shut down by censors April 14, reopens tonight in a new site. Sisu Gallery will take over the show that was closed at Queen Emma Gallery at The Queen's Medical Center because some employees thought the content controversial.
Sisu owner Seth Goldstein sees the reopening as turning the negative into something positive.
"When I heard what had happened I felt it was a step in the wrong direction, a step backward," he said. "People should be allowed to voice their objections, but a dialogue should be started. It shouldn't just end.
The "Shaka Da Nu" exhibition received celebratory reviews after it opened March 29. Queen Emma gallery director Masa Taira, who has long showcased the work of established artists, wanted to feature Hawaii's next generation of young talents: Ian Gillespie, Kimberely Rector, Cade Roster, Dan Rudoy, Jason Teraoka and Maggie Yee.
Goldstein said complaints took the pieces out of context, as with a Maggie Yee painting, entitled "The Virgin Rests on her Bruised Cherries Pondering Fashion," which had shown earlier at Sisu.
"Somebody looked at that and said, 'We can't have that, a woman in chains,' " he said. "But it's not about women in chains. It was part of our 'Fashion Victim' show, a statement by a woman to suggest we should not be tethered to public perception. The artists were never asked to defend their work."
Richard Lau, Queen's vice president of human resources, said, "This decision is based in part on the federal and state anti-discrimination laws which require employers to maintain a workplace free of sexually, religiously or racially controversial material."
Goldstein said the hospital does have to consider the opinions of all who walk through its doors, but he said, "They could have removed the few 'offending' pieces instead of kicking everyone out."
Each artist will have a statement on view at the show, such as this from Teraoka: "Sometimes the audience seems to forget that there are people and human experiences attached to artwork. The actual art piece is merely a by-product of that human experience.
"I feel that nothing in this exhibition goes beyond the realm of the everyday interactions we have with our surroundings. So please give yourself a plateful and see how it tastes."
Sisu Gallery is at 1160A Nuuanu Ave., 537-5880. The show opens with a 6 to 9 p.m. reception today and runs through May 23.
