Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Ant-covered Jesus video removed from Smithsonian after Catholic League complains

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 1, 2010; 12:00 AM

Officials at the National Portrait Gallery on Tuesday removed a work of video art depicting Christ with ants crawling over him after complaints from a Catholic organization and members of Congress.

The four-minute video, created by the late artist David Wojnarowicz, had been on exhibit since Oct. 30 as part of a show on sexual difference in American portraiture.

The piece was called "hate speech" by Catholic League president William Donohue and a misuse of taxpayer money by a spokesman for Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), the presumptive incoming House speaker.

For more on the story, please click here.

(video) Warning: graphic

Video
An excerpt from the video by the late artist David Wojnarowicz titled "A Fire in My Belly" that the National Portrait Gallery removed from the show "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture."

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