Controversy kills religious exhibition

It wasn’t clear who was behind the messages or what was said.

The exhibit was intended to be a fundraiser for the Brother Francis Shelter, which provides meals, showers and a safe place to sleep for the homeless in Anchorage. The shelter is overseen by Catholic Social Services.

“There was a big misunderstanding on some people’s part as to what the nature of this fundraiser was,” Kimura said. “This was not to denigrate or offend people. What it was intended to do was enrich people’s understanding of how the sacred has been portrayed in Western Christian art.”

Ellen Krsnak, director of community development at Catholic Social Services, approved Ryan’s proposal to do the benefit for the shelter. However, Krsnak said she did not review Ryan’s proposal fully, had not seen the fliers, and was unaware that the exhibit contained the “controversial” pieces “Christa” and “Piss Christ.”

“Christa,” a 1975 creation by Edwina Sandys, is a four-foot bronze sculpture of Christ portrayed on the cross as a female. The piece has a history of controversy in other U.S. cities.

Andres Serrano’s “Piss Christ,” first displayed in 1989, is a photograph of a small crucifix submerged in urine and cow blood. The piece won an award sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, which resulted in outrage by political conservatives.
Krsnak said Archbishop Roger Schweitz made the final decision for Brother Francis to cut off its connection to the event.

Five or so supporters of Brother Francis Shelter were deeply hurt and CSS does not want to offend, we only want to serve the people,” Krsnak said. “It is hard to be the cause of someone’s anguish.”
Ryan said that she never intended to offend anyone, but wanted to examine and discuss the historical, artistic, philosophical and theological aspects of the 28 pieces of art she collected. She had planned to display mounted prints of the works.

“Everyone’s intentions were good, but there was a very large misunderstanding regarding the intent and content of the exhibit,” Ryan said.

“People have prejudged this without having an understanding for the context of the show,” Kimura said.

The Good Friday fundraiser was to be the “community component” of Ryan’s senior project presentation, which was to have been held in the same location, the chapel, on April 17. APU last spring awarded Ryan a “Good Works Fellowship Award” of $1,000, which she intends to donate to the Brother Francis Shelter.

Her senior project titled “Divine Aesthetics: the Beautiful and the Grotesque, the Sacred and the Profane, the Pious and the Controversial,” was “based on a very deep connection between art and faith,” Kimura said.

Kimura said Ryan considered all options and the decision to cancel the Good Friday event came down to her. He added that Ryan received no pressure from the university, and that the school would have backed her in her decision either way.

Ryan ultimately chose to cancel the Good Friday show. She also decided not to display the works of art for her senior project presentation. Instead, she showed PowerPoint images, and she changed the location from the chapel to the Carr Gottstein Academic Center.

“Under the current circumstances it just wasn’t logistical,” Ryan said of her original plans.
Other art in Ryan’s presentation included Chagall’s “Adam and Eve,” Stanley Spencer’s “A Modern Crucifixion” and Giotto’s “Madonna and Child.”

Cindy Shake, local artist and APU student, said the idea of using the chapel was in poor taste, but it’s too bad the fundraiser was cancelled.

“It distresses me that there wasn’t an alternative venue or compromise,” Shake said. “Because it’s the students who ultimately lose out, including her.”

“The nature of this exhibit seems so much more controversial than I intended,” Ryan said at her senior project presentation. She said the art world’s perspective of religious art is different from the religious perspective.

“Art is not the same for everyone; religion is not the same for everyone,” Ryan said.
Kimura said some controversy was anticipated, not the sort of “knee jerk” response that happened.

"When you talk about religion it brings the best out and worst out in everyone,” Kimura said. “It’s been a shame all around.”