Hi Merri:

If only this issue was so easily seen as an "either-or."  But it's not.
People agree sometimes, disagree other times.

To generalize about New Yorkers (i.e., "the deep hurt and pain that many
New Yorkers would feel from experiencing this artwork") oversimplifies
their emotional capabilities.  Are you suggesting there is no middle
ground of confusion - that people either are hurt/pain or are
cold/callous?  Thankfully, people are more complicated than polar
("either-or") thinking.

That some can see beauty in this sculpture does not mean they consider
the tragedy to have been "good."  Perhaps they recognize death and
tragedy as a part of life . . . part of a linear or cyclical process.
If others are disturbed by the sculpture, let them turn away.  Better
yet, let them turn toward something that inspires feeling in them.  But
do not deny those for whom the sculpture is a touching memorial.

Sincerely,

Jay Heuman
Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art Museum
2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102
342-3300 (telephone)   342-2376 (fax)

"You can’t lock up art in a vault and keep it frozen for posterity. Then
the artist is betrayed, history is betrayed."
(Walter Persegati)



  -----Original Message-----
  From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
  On Behalf Of Merri Pemberton
  Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 5:41 pm
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: Re: 9/11 Censorship? Statue of falling woman censored

  Dear All,
  I have seen this statue on the internet, and I have to say that, no
matter what type of scholarly b.s. one would love to use to justify this
piece, this artwork is just disgraceful at this time. If Fischl did not
forsee the deep hurt and pain that many New Yorkers would feel from
experiencing this artwork, then he is, what I call, an educated fool.
These New Yorkers went through more hell than we could have ever
imagined. Witnessing the people who jumped to their deaths, because they
couldn't bear to be burned alive has damaged the minds and emotions of
many people for a long time. New Yorkers are still going through
nightmares, and other mental and emotional problems because of these
horrific sights. Some barely made it out of those buildings alive. How
would any of you feel if you had to  witness, in person, these things,
or realize that a skyscraper is falling down upon you.
  How can we even justify this art at this time? There will always a
debate of what is good art or bad art, what is tasteful or not, but this
piece of work is just plain cold and sorry. It is about time that we get
off of our snotty pants high horses and recognize that there is a time
and a place for everything. This piece of artwork is in the wrong time
and in the wrong place. Give New York a time to heal before you start to
even think about placing this kind of art in the public, where everyone
has to look at it. We may be able to block out billboards and signs on
an everyday basis, but you have to be half out of your mind to block
that statue out.
  Good gracious, let us be human and have some decency and good ole'
fashion sense for a change.
  Sincerely,
  Merri
  M erri C .Pemberton