On July 31st 2010 Beacon NY had its second Annual Electric Windows Event.
Which was presented by OPEN SPACE Gallery and Burlock Home.
30 artists from all over the country came, to create live artwork and have their work installed on the exterior of a 19th century factory building. Some of the artists were:
Big Foot
Buxtonia
BoogieRez
Cern
Chor Boogie
Chris Stain
Chris Yormick
Depoe
Elbow Toe
Elia Gurna
Ellis G
Erik Otto
Eugene Good
Faust
Gaia
Joe Iurato
Kid Zoom
Mr Kiji
Logan Hicks
Lotem & Aviv
Michael De Feo
Peru Ana Ana Peru
Paper Monster
Peat Wollaeger
Rick Price
Ron English
Ryan Bubnis
Ryan Williams
Skewville
Ultra
Days after the event, one artist stood out. It was Ron English. (Bio below)
Ron English is an American contemporary artist born in 1959 who explores popular brand imagery and advertising. His signature style employs a mash-up of high and low cultural touchstones, including comic superhero mythology and totems of art history, to create a visual language of evolution. He is also widely considered a seminal figure in the advancement of street art away from traditional wild-style lettering and into clever statement and masterful trompe l’oeil based art. He has created illegal murals and billboards that blend stunning visuals with biting political, consumerist and surrealist statements, hijacking public space worldwide for the sake of art since the 1980s.
Apparently his work offended some. And in a common council meeting the fate of his Electric Windows artwork was decided.
A Mr. Tony Beck wrote about his disgust here on his own blog in his own words:
Pastor Tonys Blog The formerly industrial city of Beacon, New York, as reinvented itself as a tourist destination with a revitalized Main Street consisting of art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, etc. There are two empty factory buildings at the intersection of Main Street and East Main Street that the city apparently wanted to dress up for the tourists and the locals. Artists were invited to paint on media that were the size of the windows in these buildings.
These paintings were placed in the windows of the larger building that faces Main Street, and they are generally attractive and tastefully done. However, the artist or artists who did several of the paintings on the “round house” that faces East Main Street had other ideas. His or her artwork is offensive and in poor taste. Now before you cry “First Amendment” and “Freedom of Expression” let me briefly describe the paintings in question and then point out a few things.
The most offensive (at least to me) was a painting of the crucified Christ surrounded by what could only be called anti-Christian material. One of the more offensive items on the painting was a dollar bill with the picture of Jesus and overlaid the words “In God we must trust, it’s the law.”
Another painting was a take-off on a White Castle ad that said “Crack. What you crave.” Another was a take-off on a Miller beer ad that said “Military Might, Less Chilling, More Killing.” Lastly, there was a painting of an overweight Ronald McDonald strolling out of what is presumably a McDonald’s restaurant.
Let me make three points regarding this art:
First, these pieces are on public display, not in a gallery. If they were in a gallery, you would have a choice as to whether you wanted to go in and see this stuff. Since they aren’t in a gallery but in public space, care should be taken not to be offensive.
Second, public artwork like these pieces shouldn’t be instruments of advocacy or bigotry. There’s a time and a place for advocacy, and it isn’t on these buildings. Such public displays of art should be decorative and entertaining, not in your face bigotry.
Third, these pieces of art on the roundhouse that I just described are clearly the work of a bigot who cares little about offending Christians. Because Christians aren’t politically correct and are easy targets since we don’t issue fatwas, comedians, the entertainment industry, and apparently some artists don’t care if they offend us. I believe the city should remove such hateful trash because it is offensive to a sizable segment of the population and isn’t in keeping with the spirit of unity that has been fostered in Beacon. Before you yell “Censorship” let me say this: truly tolerant and mature people self-censor in order to try to maintain a polite and tolerant society. Those with little or no tolerance don’t care whom they offend – they’ll trample others for the sake of their so-called “artistic self-expression.”
I focused on the anti-Christian piece, but the others are also offensive. The anti-military poster was inappropriate. The military is doing its duty in carrying out our government’s policies, misguided as you might believe they are. Don’t go after the military – go after the politicians who set policy. I understand the message of the plump Ronald McDonald, but the artist was trashing the symbol of a very good charity. The crack piece was just plain stupid.
I ask that artists and others not narrowly define “tolerance” to only include those who are politically correct, but to be tolerant in the original meaning of the word. Only then will society truly have moved to a higher level instead of continuing to degenerate into a ruder, cruder, and more bigoted state."After pushing for this artwork to be removed... it was.
(Artwork in question)
After the artwork was removed The Rev. Tony Beck wrote a very nice "Thank You"
(below)
I wanted to write this with one purpose.. to share with others and get your opinions, keeping mine to myself. However I can't. The reason why is because I don't see what Mr. Tony Beck sees. Everyone has their right to their own opinion, but it does sadden me to know that I cannot see this artwork any longer, because (In my opinion only) another persons eyes were not open enough to see beyond the actual image. Perhaps next time all of the artist should be approved, before allowing them to be a part of Electric Windows.
I encourage everyone to please comment on this. I want to know all views and opinions.
