I’d like to respond and clarify what happened during the installation of Paper Politics at SPACE.
Two members of our staff who were installing the show drew my attention to a print by Stewart Williams. Given the subject matter and public context in which it would be shown, I discussed the issue with Mary Tremonte, curator of the show’s local component, suggesting two ideas: remove the print from the show or, better still, place an advisory upon entrance of the gallery stating an age restriction for the exhibit. Mary suggested an excellent third alternative: ask the artist to substitute another print. The two aforementioned staff members can attest to this conversation and its outcome: requesting a substitution was agreed upon as the course of action.
On opening day, I asked Mary Tremonte what had happened to the print and she replied that she had “pulled it”. When asked why, she stated that the artist did not have another print to substitute. This implies that she had contacted the artist, appropriately as she was the primary conduit for the local artists involved. Yet, Stewart Williams claims that no one from the gallery contacted him. Given my prior discussion with the curator, I believed that the issue had been resolved through her coordination. Neither I nor my staff was aware that there was a problem that necessitated our contacting Williams ourselves.
SPACE Gallery is a street-level gallery open to the general public and frequently visited by nearby CAPA and Charter day school students. SPACE, as well as all of the galleries operated by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, strives to present provocative and engaging works. Community discussions regarding what is appropriate for public view are welcome. They are most fruitful when the parties involved communicate with each other fully- before any actions are taken. .
A separate but related misconception has been put forth that "the Cultural Trust removed the Carolina Loyola Garcia video a couple years back from the Arts Festival.” The Cultural Trust did not oversee the Three Rivers Arts Festival at that time and was not involved in said incident.
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Two members of our staff who were installing the show drew my attention to a print by Stewart Williams. Given the subject matter and public context in which it would be shown, I discussed the issue with Mary Tremonte, curator of the show’s local component, suggesting two ideas: remove the print from the show or, better still, place an advisory upon entrance of the gallery stating an age restriction for the exhibit. Mary suggested an excellent third alternative: ask the artist to substitute another print. The two aforementioned staff members can attest to this conversation and its outcome: requesting a substitution was agreed upon as the course of action.
On opening day, I asked Mary Tremonte what had happened to the print and she replied that she had “pulled it”. When asked why, she stated that the artist did not have another print to substitute. This implies that she had contacted the artist, appropriately as she was the primary conduit for the local artists involved. Yet, Stewart Williams claims that no one from the gallery contacted him. Given my prior discussion with the curator, I believed that the issue had been resolved through her coordination. Neither I nor my staff was aware that there was a problem that necessitated our contacting Williams ourselves.
SPACE Gallery is a street-level gallery open to the general public and frequently visited by nearby CAPA and Charter day school students. SPACE, as well as all of the galleries operated by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, strives to present provocative and engaging works. Community discussions regarding what is appropriate for public view are welcome. They are most fruitful when the parties involved communicate with each other fully- before any actions are taken. .
A separate but related misconception has been put forth that "the Cultural Trust removed the Carolina Loyola Garcia video a couple years back from the Arts Festival.” The Cultural Trust did not oversee the Three Rivers Arts Festival at that time and was not involved in said incident.