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Timely topic
This weekend, county residents will have an opportunity to participate in a national debate.
On Saturday evening, the Middle Street Gallery will sponsor a panel discussion, “Sacred Cows: Arts in Crisis.” The discussion is part of the gallery’s September exhibition, “Sacred Cows,” which opens to the public on Saturday afternoon.
The panel will be composed of three artists, at least two of whom have been personally involved in the controversy over public funding for the arts, which has become in some cases a debate about censorship.
Lynn Schmidt is a painter and sculptor who lives in Arlington. She is also the chairwoman of the board of directors of the Washington Project for the Arts, the gallery which exhibited Robert Mapplethorpe’s controversial photographs after the show was cancelled by the Corcoran.
Alice Sims, a painter from Alexandria, found herself accused of child pornography after she sent photographs of her young children to a drugstore photo lab to be developed. Her children were briefly removed from her home by social service workers before a judge settled the issue by dismissing the charge against her.
Meredith Rode is a painter and a teacher at the University of the District of Columbia, and is working on a paper about art and what we appreciate when we study it.
The fourth panel member, Douglas Baumgardner, brings a different perspective to the discussion. Professionally, he is an attorney practicing in Washington, Va. He has also been deeply involved in Virginia politics for some years, so he brings an understanding of both the legal and political realities which are also part of the controversy.
The organizers of the discussion say they are looking for a “robust and vigorous debate.” We hope that many residents will take advantage of this opportunity to bring a national issue down to the local level.
Given the fact that public money goes not only to the controversial works of art which draw national headlines, but also to other projects including assistance for the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and the Community as well as to staff and provide supplies for an art program at Rappahannock County Elementary School, the issue clearly comes close to home.
We’re not going to try to resolve the debate here — but we hope that all points of view will be well represented Saturday evening at the Town Hall.
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