----------------------------Original message---------------------------- It's my understanding that the Sensation show is predominantly (if not entirely) British. If the works of art contained within reflect the state of affairs of any nation, it's the UK (and I'd venture to say that Chris Ofili's work represents the UK about as much as Bob Flanagan's work represents the US). Ideally, art has no boundaries. In reality, unfortunately, for someone with my income who can't afford to visit London galleries, this show is the only opportunity to see emerging British art. If public funding is truly pulled from this institution, the chances are slim that it will focus on more emerging art in the future. The "disturbing" aspect of this show revolves around religion. This matter is as much an issue of Church vs. State as it is Freedom of Speech. I don't have any problem with the Catholic Church (or anyone else) picketing the show, but as soon as my elected officials begin dictating the "appropriateness" of religious subject matter in museums, and spending my public tax dollars based on their personal opinions, I have to draw the line. The work in this show was selected for three reasons. It was created, it was written about, and it was bought. If anyone has any objection to the current trends of content within contemporary art, they should either create, write about, or buy art that they're content with. I hate to break it to you Mr. Keaveney, but if all artists in need of psychotherapy visited shrinks instead of creating art, museums would be empty. Art History 101. >>> WILLIAM KEAVENEY <[log in to unmask]> 09/27 3:02 PM >>> ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Art should enrich the intellectual and aesthetic lives of people not serve the psychoanalytic needs of the "artist." "Artists" who are in need of psychotherapy should visit a shrink, not pollute the walls and floors of cultural institutions with their deification (or the excrement of any animal for that matter). Their health insurance, not public arts funding should finance their "work." If this exhibition in any way reflects the state of cultural affairs in the United States then I am ashamed the be an American.