Bush monkey portrait sparks protests

Mon Dec 13, 3:52 PM ET

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A portrait of President George W. Bush (news - web sites) using monkeys to form his image has led to the closure of a New York art exhibition over the weekend and anguished protests over freedom of expression.


Reuters Photo



"Bush Monkeys," a small acrylic on canvas by Chris Savido, created the stir at the Chelsea Market public space, leading the market's managers to close down the 60-piece show that was scheduled to stay up for the next month.


The show featured art from the upcoming issue of Animal Magazine, a quarterly publication featuring emerging artists.


"We had tons of people, like more than 2,000 people show up for the opening on Thursday night," said show organizer Bucky Turco. "Then this manager saw the piece and the guy just kind of flipped out. 'The show is over. Get this work down or I'm gonna arrest you,' he said. It's been kind of wild."


Turco took the show down on Saturday and moved the art work to his small downtown Animal Gallery. Calls to the management of Chelsea Market for comment were not returned.


From afar, the painting offers a likeness of Bush, but when you get closer you see the image is made up of chimpanzees or monkeys swimming in a marsh.


Savido, 23, said he was surprised by the strong reaction to his painting, listed in the catalogue at $3,500 (1,820 pounds).


"It seems like people got a kick out of it," Savido said. "When they really see it, they almost do a double-take. I like to get a reaction from people."


The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-bred artist said he was happy for all the attention paid to his work but said the decision to shutter the exhibit was "a blatant act of censorship."


Savido plans to auction the painting and donate proceeds to an organization dedicated to freedom of expression.


"This is much deeper than art. This is fundamental American rights, freedom of speech," Savido said. "To see that something like this can happen, especially in a place like New York City is mind boggling and scary."

ahhhhhh....sweet freedom.

Ahhhhh..........the Freedom.

"Savido, 23, said he was surprised by the strong reaction to his painting, listed in the catalogue at $3,500 (1,820 pounds). "

Ahh, yes.........capitalism at its finest.


A little more outrage by the director of the market , and a couple big stories on Fox News to get people even more wound up, and Mr. Savido's art will be fetching a handsome price.

A regular 2LiveCrew he is.

OK, his 15 minutes are up!

Did you see a close-up of the picture? It's really pretty damn nice. Not that I'd pay in the K's for any art when I can get porn free on the 'net.

It is somewhat of a stretch to say that it is impeding his basic rights. In order to infringe upon freedom of expression it has to be the government restricting a person's expression. A private citizen controlling a private enterprise has every right to say what can and can't be displayed. This was a ridiculous situation, and in my opinion the art was fine, but its not near as big of a deal as the press is making it out to be.

ding-dangit post a link

Here ya go, H2O

Rarely is it. But nothing controls the masses like a little hysteria spin, eh?