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DIANA SCRIVNER / Clackamas Print
Nora Brodnicki and Stewart King, panelists, at the Town Hall style Forum held to discuss the
artwork, "Two popes boinking".
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Over 100 people attend forum to express
views, opinions on controversial art piece
SANDY LUPO
News Editor
Questionable Art?
The Art Forum to discuss “Two
Popes Boinking,” the work of artist
Gene Flores that was exhibited at
Clackamas and stirred controversy on
and off campus in recent weeks, drew
about 100 artists, students, instructors
and interested citizens from the com
munity.
The town hall-style meeting was
held last week (2-26) in the Gregory
forum, hosted by the art department
and moderated by Bill Briare, head of
religious studies for the social science
department at Clackamas.
A Panel of Art Devotees
The panel of speakers was com
prised of Cheryl Snow, executive di
rector for the Art Action Alliance of
Clackamas County, along with three
Clackamas instructors—Bill Zuelke,
department chair for counseling and
career planning, an artist in glass and
formerly a Catholic priest; Nora
Brodnicki, art historian and art history
teacher; and Stewart King, of die his
tory departments at Clackamas and Mt
Angel Seminary.
Issues and Questions
Briare’s opening remarks raised is
sues and questions.
“One of die things about art,” he
said, “is that it moves us, sometimes it
distracts us, sometimes it really annoys
us, it enlightens us, it challenges us
and it angers us..
“What we love to look at, the per
son next to us loadles. Is the intent of
the artist even important if die experi
ence of the viewer is agitation? Should
public money go only toward art that
makes the majority feel good, or should
we investigate themes that cause dis
comfort and allow us to plumb die
depths of human expression?
“Perhaps th is forum will not resolve
perfectly all die dilemmas that we face
regarding public expositions, but it will
give us insight and clarity into die va
riety of opinions that are available on
the subject”
And so it did.
Titles, Location and the Press
Rick True, art department chair, said
the publicity given the Flores exhibit,
especially “Two Popes Boinking,”
raised concern and created misconcep
tions.
“I think the media always presents
a partial point of view,” he stated.
True acknowledged die responsi
bility of the artist in his tide selection
and of the art department for its place
ment of controversial art where a pass
erby may not have the choice to view
it or not; as in a secure gallery. He also
asked if die media, in publishing the
work, assumes responsibility for the
controversy.
Academic Freedom Selectively?
King, who wrote a letter published
by die “Oregonian” Feb. 7 which ques
tioned die “wisdom of the college ex
hibiting such a blatant piece of anti
Catholic propaganda,” related artistic
freedom for Flores, who painted “Two
Popes Boinking,” to academic freedom
for his friend Dr. Donald Epstein, who
recently'“retired under pressure.”
“No one (then, in that controversy
about homosexual remarks by Epstein)
spoke about academic freedom,” said
King.
“I believe the purpose of a college
is to be a place for the discussion of all
ideas, even ideas repugnant to me,”
King remarked, but “where, were diese
people when Dr. Epstein needed
them?”
Freedom and Cultural Change
Brodnicki spoke for academic and
artistic freedom.
“As an academic institution,” she
said, “Clackamas ideal ly depends upon
that freedom for its health and integ
rity and should promote conditions of
free inquiry and further the public un
derstanding of academic freedom.”
The art history instructor called for
the “right for us to present work that
might be questionable or offensive.”
Brodnicki also reminded the audi
ence of the course Of history:
“Conflict and disagreement have
contributed to some of our most im
portant cultural changes,” emphasized
the historian, citing the Protestant ref
ormation and the women’s suffrage
movement
“I don’t think that work you hate
"Let's draw a line between^
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that’s not
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you shouldn’t see,” Brodnicki stated.
“We don’t move forward if we hide
everything that’s controversial.”
Where’s the Rub?
Bill Zuelke asked the audience to
consider three “pitchpoints.”
“Where does academic freedom and
responsibility for the consequences of
our actions and expressions.. .where
do they begin to rub up against each
other?
“If I yell ‘fire!’ and everybody runs
out and gets injured, that’s libelous lan
guage—I don’thave the academic free
dom to express myself any
way.. .students have a right to be in
an environment that is not hostile to
than.”
Secondly, Zuelke again raised the
question of placement of controver
sial art, and showing or not show
ing the tide; and perhaps the need
XQur right to say it."
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"Freedom is always attached to responsibility."
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When students were asked
bpinking" by Gene Flores t
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for a disclaimer with the art to warn
viewers it might be offensive.
Zuelke’s third “pitch point”, was
the question for identified classes
of people, and if academic or artistic
freedom has the obligation to con
sider what is objectionable to such
“minorities,” in this case, Catholics.
County-wide and Open Conversa
tion
Cheryl Snow, through Clackamas
County, works “to promote art and
culture.”
^jArt is a singularly impactful
method of communication,” she
said. “Isn’t that proven true tonight
by the degree of passion you’ve all
exhibited, by the fact that this room
is nearly lull?
“I’rn always applauding when art
creates dialog within our community.
“If we can continue speaking about
art...opening up conversations
about the things which create pas
sion in us, we will begin to resolve
the issues that reside behind them.
“I feel very strongly that when we
hide, we are allowing fear to power
us. When we open up the veils, we
disembowel -the power of fear to
guide our dialogs and interactions.”
All this debate ensued amidst the
beautiful strains of music floating
across the hall from the choir—sing
ing a Catholic mass.
“The
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Rick Canhan).
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not that big of a deal.”
Hannah Schoen, *
Genera! Education
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