The Art of Sensation and Censorship December 20, 2012

≈ Date: December 20, 2012 Location: Bahdeebadu gallery 1522 N.American Street Philadelphia, PA Time: 7:00PM Featured Artists Andres Serrano Holly Hughes Tim Miller Karen Finely The images in the proposal are in order that they will be experienced. The videos for the performance art will be posted individually to the blog, as well as the gallery layout itself Opening reception will include light refreshments as well as A talk and critique with guest speaker Sister Wendy. An biography is included in this proposal. EXHIBITION PROPOSAL

This exhibition aims to examine and reclaim the works of the “NEA Four.” By allowing these artists to redisplay their censored or controversial pieces, the viewer is allowed the opportunity to publically share, express, or withhold their perceptions. Art has the power to communicate powerful messages. It is up to the viewer to decide what, if any, is the importance of those messages without fear of exclusion, judgment, or censorship. EXHIBITION STATEMENT

Known for her honest and clever critiques of art and artists, Sister Wendy Beckett is world renowned for her art critique and observations. Although she typically has only two hours of work time within her daily solitude vow, she was delighted to make a brief appearance here today. Sister Wendy will be speaking about the censoring of art as well as giving her personal critique of Andres Serrano’s “Piss Christ”. 8:00 pm sharp OPENING SPEAKER: SISTER WENDY BECKETT

. ARTIST: TIM MILLER TITLE: STRETCH MARKS MEDIUM: PERFORMANCE ART

ARTIST:HOLLY HUGHES TITLE:CLIT NOTES YEAR: 1990 MEDIIM

ARTIST: JOHN FLECK TITLE: PUSSY MEDIUM: PERFORMANCE ART

For her performance "We Keep Our Victims Ready.” Finley took her inspiration from Tawana Brawley, a 16-year-old who was found alive in a Hefty bag covered with feces near her home in upstate New York. “I smeared my body with chocolate, because, I said in the piece, I’m a woman, and women are usually treated like shit. Then I cover myself with red candy hearts-because, ‘after a woman is treated like shit, she becomes more lovable.’ After the hearts, I cover myself with bean sprouts, which smelled like semen and looked like seamen-because, after a woman is treated like shit, and loved for it, she is jacked off on. Then I spread tinsel all over my body, like a Cher dress—because, no matter how badly a woman is treated, she’ll still get it together to dress for dinner. ARTIST: KAREN FINLEY TITLE: WE KEEP OUR VICTIMS READY 1989 MEDIUM: MILK CHOCOLATE

ARTIST: ANDRES SERANNO TITLE: PISS CHRIST MEDIUM: PHOTOGRAPHY During this current expo, he was quoted as saying, "At the time I made Piss Christ, I wasn't trying to get anything across, in hindsight, I'd say Piss Christ is a reflection of my work, not only as an artist, but as a Christian."

Andres Serrano is a Photographer from New York. ANDRES SERRANO

JOHN FLECK John Fleck is a performance artist and actor

Holly Hughes is a performance artist from New York. In her leisure time, she is an associate professor at the University of Michigan.. HOLLY HUGHES

Tim Miller is a performance artist from Santa Monica California. TIM MILLER

Karen Finley is a performance artist from New York. KAREN FINLEY

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY. Enjoy the show