Confederate flag controversy
A few weekends ago, my husband and I visited the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. [Mary Brogan is the late wife of former Lieutenant Governor of Florida, Frank Brogan. She died of cancer while he was in office, and the newly built museum was named in her honor.] On the first and second floors there are some neat hands-on science exhibits that kids and adults enjoy. On the third floor we viewed an art exhibit. Here is the blurb from the museum's website, http://www.thebrogan.org/.
AfroProvocations (3rd Floor) -
February 27 - June 3, 2007
Monday, February 26: 5:30-7:30pm Public Reception for Exhibition
8pm on Kleman Plaza: Ladysmith Black Mombaza concert
This exhibition includes the work of John Sims, Pat Ward Williams, Steven Bernard Jones, Sangoyemi Ogunsanya, O.L. Samuels and Mary Proctor. These six artists were selected not only because their works represent diverse points of view, but also because they conceptually intersect in important ways. These artists produce works concerned with a wide conceptual range, including identity, culture, sexuality, gender, religion, and outright political debate. Although many of their works intersect in one or more of these areas, barbed humor being one of the more powerful weapons in their collective arsenals, the greatest intersection of these artists and their works is their expressions of and demands for an opening of eyes, and a moving forward from a place of fear and distrust to a place of understanding and mutual respect.
I really enjoyed the exhibit. The most memorable parts were the Confederate Flag portion by John Sims and the really cool sculptures of animals decorated with lots and lots of glitter (can't remember which artist, sorry!).
Well, it turns out that John Sims' work provoked a lot of criticism.
Basically, the exhibit included various Confederate flags made out of various materials in unusual colors. One was red and green. Another was purple and pink, made with shiny materials and feathers. One was black and white. The most controversial one was a Confederate flag hanging by a noose from a 13-foot gallows, titled "The Proper Way to Hang a Confederate Flag."
As you might expect, the Sons of Confederate Veterans said, "Oh no he di-int!" The leader of the local chapter asserts that this is not art. The group asked the museum to remove the exhibit.
My hat is off to museum executive director Chucha Barber for refusing to remove Sims' art. These "Sons of the Confederacy" types claim that the flag is not a symbol of slavery, but I just don't agree. The Stars and Bars may have been created as a flag to fly over the newly created Confederate States of America, but today it also holds strong associations with one of the main reasons for the secession from the Union. Some will claim otherwise, but slavery, although not the only issue, was a MAJOR issue in the southern states' decision to break away.
In response to this controversy, the Museum created a blog on their website for discussion of the controversy (check it out at http://thebrogan.blogspot.com/). I'm sad to say that a majority of the entries are critical of Sims' art and consider it insulting to Southerners and their history. A few support Sims. I guess it should be no surprise that it was so controversial in the only Confederate capital city that was not taken by Union forces in the Civil War (not that there was much to take or any strategic benefit - Jacksonville was by far more important). However, on the opening page of the blog, there is a statement from Chucha Barber that represents a sentiment, regarding John Sims' art, I completely agree with. "If his art stirred you, created emotion within you, it did exactly what art is meant to do." Well said, Ms. Barber.
I encourage the few Tallahassee residents on my friends list to visit this exhibit and see what you think. The museum is not expensive to visit, and if you go at the right time it is free. Here is the info.
Admission info:
ASTC and Brogan Museum Members ar FREE!
$3.50 for children(3-17), students(with valid ID), senior citizens(60 and up), and military(with valid ID)
$6.00 for adults
Children 2 years old and younger are free
Museum admission is free from 4pm until 5pm everyday
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm - 5:00pm
First Friday's of the Month 10:00am - 9:00pm (4-9pm Admission is FREE!)
P.S. I'm no fan of Jeb Bush, but in reading about this controversy, I'm reminded that in 2001 he removed the Confederate flag from the Capitol building, where it, along with some minor flags of the Confederacy, had flown. I remember that there was a lot of fuss at the time, but 6 years later it's still gone. This is one of the small handful of examples of how Jeb sucks way less than his brother.
AfroProvocations (3rd Floor) -
February 27 - June 3, 2007
Monday, February 26: 5:30-7:30pm Public Reception for Exhibition
8pm on Kleman Plaza: Ladysmith Black Mombaza concert
This exhibition includes the work of John Sims, Pat Ward Williams, Steven Bernard Jones, Sangoyemi Ogunsanya, O.L. Samuels and Mary Proctor. These six artists were selected not only because their works represent diverse points of view, but also because they conceptually intersect in important ways. These artists produce works concerned with a wide conceptual range, including identity, culture, sexuality, gender, religion, and outright political debate. Although many of their works intersect in one or more of these areas, barbed humor being one of the more powerful weapons in their collective arsenals, the greatest intersection of these artists and their works is their expressions of and demands for an opening of eyes, and a moving forward from a place of fear and distrust to a place of understanding and mutual respect.
I really enjoyed the exhibit. The most memorable parts were the Confederate Flag portion by John Sims and the really cool sculptures of animals decorated with lots and lots of glitter (can't remember which artist, sorry!).
Well, it turns out that John Sims' work provoked a lot of criticism.
Basically, the exhibit included various Confederate flags made out of various materials in unusual colors. One was red and green. Another was purple and pink, made with shiny materials and feathers. One was black and white. The most controversial one was a Confederate flag hanging by a noose from a 13-foot gallows, titled "The Proper Way to Hang a Confederate Flag."
As you might expect, the Sons of Confederate Veterans said, "Oh no he di-int!" The leader of the local chapter asserts that this is not art. The group asked the museum to remove the exhibit.
My hat is off to museum executive director Chucha Barber for refusing to remove Sims' art. These "Sons of the Confederacy" types claim that the flag is not a symbol of slavery, but I just don't agree. The Stars and Bars may have been created as a flag to fly over the newly created Confederate States of America, but today it also holds strong associations with one of the main reasons for the secession from the Union. Some will claim otherwise, but slavery, although not the only issue, was a MAJOR issue in the southern states' decision to break away.
In response to this controversy, the Museum created a blog on their website for discussion of the controversy (check it out at http://thebrogan.blogspot.com/). I'm sad to say that a majority of the entries are critical of Sims' art and consider it insulting to Southerners and their history. A few support Sims. I guess it should be no surprise that it was so controversial in the only Confederate capital city that was not taken by Union forces in the Civil War (not that there was much to take or any strategic benefit - Jacksonville was by far more important). However, on the opening page of the blog, there is a statement from Chucha Barber that represents a sentiment, regarding John Sims' art, I completely agree with. "If his art stirred you, created emotion within you, it did exactly what art is meant to do." Well said, Ms. Barber.
I encourage the few Tallahassee residents on my friends list to visit this exhibit and see what you think. The museum is not expensive to visit, and if you go at the right time it is free. Here is the info.
Admission info:
ASTC and Brogan Museum Members ar FREE!
$3.50 for children(3-17), students(with valid ID), senior citizens(60 and up), and military(with valid ID)
$6.00 for adults
Children 2 years old and younger are free
Museum admission is free from 4pm until 5pm everyday
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm - 5:00pm
First Friday's of the Month 10:00am - 9:00pm (4-9pm Admission is FREE!)
P.S. I'm no fan of Jeb Bush, but in reading about this controversy, I'm reminded that in 2001 he removed the Confederate flag from the Capitol building, where it, along with some minor flags of the Confederacy, had flown. I remember that there was a lot of fuss at the time, but 6 years later it's still gone. This is one of the small handful of examples of how Jeb sucks way less than his brother.