TheRightWing
Wooooooooh Nelly look em' go!!!
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 5,277
- Reaction score
- 0
The painting is called "T'anks to Mr. Bush," and it shows a star-spangled United States being flushed down the toilet. The artist, a Berkeley lawyer, says it depicts his view of where President Bush (search) is leading the country.
The nonprofit arts council put together the annual exhibit, and the attorney general — whose office is in the building — says it would be un-American to remove this, or any piece, just because it's controversial.
"For those that it offends, they shouldn't look at it. For those that want to talk about public-policy matters and look at the art, they're free to do so. But it's their free choice," said Nathan Barankin, a spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer (search).
"They have a right to be upset with that piece, it's their right. They have a right to say that they don't like it, it's their right not to look at it," said Ellen Taylor of the California Lawyers for the Arts.
But critics say this isn't about censorship, it's about whether partisan political art belongs in the state government facility.
"I find it distasteful, and I find it offensive," said Sacramento resident Peggy Bengs, who visited the exhibit. "I don't like the political implications personally because I believe it is a state building that is financed by the taxpayers."
The nonprofit arts council put together the annual exhibit, and the attorney general — whose office is in the building — says it would be un-American to remove this, or any piece, just because it's controversial.
"For those that it offends, they shouldn't look at it. For those that want to talk about public-policy matters and look at the art, they're free to do so. But it's their free choice," said Nathan Barankin, a spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer (search).
"They have a right to be upset with that piece, it's their right. They have a right to say that they don't like it, it's their right not to look at it," said Ellen Taylor of the California Lawyers for the Arts.
But critics say this isn't about censorship, it's about whether partisan political art belongs in the state government facility.
"I find it distasteful, and I find it offensive," said Sacramento resident Peggy Bengs, who visited the exhibit. "I don't like the political implications personally because I believe it is a state building that is financed by the taxpayers."
