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

By Jacqueline Trescott

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.

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• Q&A, Transcript: Ant-covered Jesus video removed from National Portrait Gallery
• Going Out Gurus: 'Hide/Seek': Go see it for yourself
• Ant-covered Jesus video removed from Smithsonian after Catholic League complains (video)
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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

Ant-covered Jesus video: A clip from the removed exhibit

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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