Posted on 04/21/2006 10:46:17 AM PDT by Happy Valley Dude
For Penn State student Josh Stulman, years of hard work ended in disappointment yesterday when the university cancelled his upcoming art exhibit for violation of Penn State's policies on nondiscrimination, harassment and hate.
Three days before his 10-piece exhibit -- Portraits of Terror -- was scheduled to open at the Patterson Building, Stulman (senior-painting and anthropology) received an e-mail message from the School of Visual Arts that said his exhibit on images of terrorism "did not promote cultural diversity" or "opportunities for democratic dialogue" and the display would be cancelled.
The exhibit, Stulman said, which is based mainly on the conflict in Palestinian territories, raises questions concerning the destruction of Jewish religious shrines, anti-Semitic propaganda and cartoons in Palestinian newspapers, the disregard for rules of engagement and treatment of prisoners, and the indoctrination of youth into terrorist acts.
"I'm being censored and the reason for censoring me doesn't make sense," Stulman said.
Charles Garoian, professor and director of the School of Visual Arts, said Stulman's controversial images did not mesh with the university's educational mission.
The decision to cancel the exhibit came after reviewing Penn State's Policy AD42: Statement on Nondiscrimination and Harassment and Penn State's Zero Tolerance Policy for Hate, he wrote.
Garoian could not be reached by The Daily Collegian for further comment by press time yesterday.
Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon wrote in an e-mail message that "there are other issues involved in the display that has caused a problem, issues that have nothing to do with the content of the painting." Mahon wrote that he did not know all the details.
"We always encourage those who are offended by free speech to use their own constitutional right to free speech to make their concerns known," Mahon wrote. "This is an educational institution and people should embrace opportunities to inform one another and the public. ... We don't have a right to hide art."
Stulman said the exhibit, which is sponsored by Penn State Hillel, aims to create awareness on campus about the senselessness of terrorism and drew inspiration from images that have appeared in the public through newspapers and television.
He said he was shocked at the university's decision to cancel the exhibit and that he has tried to meet with Garoian on numerous occasions to discuss his artwork.
"It's not about hate. I don't hate Muslims. This is not about Islam," Stulman said. "This is about terrorism impacting the Palestinian way of life and Israel way of life."
Stulman said advertisements for the event were defaced in the Patterson and School of Visual Arts buildings, one of which had a large swastika on it.
Stulman, who is Jewish, said he felt threatened and abused by the Nazi symbol and is concerned for his artwork and his personal well-being.
Garoian also wrote that exhibit space in the School of Visual Arts is reserved for students and faculty, not groups with a particular agenda.
Stulman said he created his paintings on his own and he approached Penn State Hillel in February to help with advertising costs and food for the opening. He said the School of Visual Arts did not object to his earlier exhibit, also sponsored by Hillel.
Tuvia Abramson, director of Penn State Hillel, said while Hillel sponsored the Stulman's exhibit, the group had nothing to do with his message or content.
"We don't have a political agenda except to support the voice of Jewish students," he said.
Abramson said Hillel is exploring other venues for Stulman's exhibits to ensure his message does not go unnoticed.
"It's about opening eyes and challenging viewpoints," Abramson said. "Artistic expression is the basis for creativity -- but here, it was blocked."
--Collegian staff writers Meaghan Haugh and Devon Lash contributed to this article.
Josh Stulman examines his artwork, previously scheduled for an art exhibit that was canceled by Penn State. The painting to the right, by Stulman, is titled Our Greatest Hero and depicts Hag Amin Al-Husseini, who was hailed as the greatest Palestinian hero by Yasir Arafat. Other works by Stulman address terrorism toward Jews.
:-)
How so?
I recently took a few art classes at FIU.
There was in fact a portrait painting class given there by a qualified instructor, but only at night and not for the full semester, and only for the art education students, not the actual art students, who had no access whatsoever to that kind of thing.
I believe the instructor was, as you say, an adjunct.
I was under the impression that "Penn" ==> U. of Penn (Ivy League), and Penn State, aka Nittany Lions, state school...
My brother and sister-in-law's alma mater and they always seem to think it is better than mine (Florida State). Now I have something to retort on their continued "greatness" of PSU.
I'd actually like to see the paintings. I'm not thrilled with the one in the illustration, but it would be interesting to see more of them.
I wonder if, in time, someone like Josh Stulman could send images to be posted on an alternative web site (like a thread a FR?). That way more people would be able to see his pieces than might just at Penn. And more discussion would ensue.
Actually, we don't know if he is indeed a conservative. But it is somewhat interesting that this is the second story in a day or two whereby the ruckus is over non-liberal views in art. I'm thinking, of course, of the "right wing attack chair" by another young art student (a blonde bombshell). It would be nice if the truly rebellious became conservatives, in the long-overdue swinging right of the pendulum.
I guess the odds are that the guy is a "liberal." After all, Israel itself is more or less socialist, I believe.
Yes, agreed that the Right, to the extent that there even is such a thing as "the Right," is the counterculture these days in America, at least in Academia.
Amen. . .
Are we as doomed as we appear by this cultural mind control? Is our 'frog cooked'?
PC continues with little resistance, it's pathetic and dangerous trail of erosion. . .
BTW, welcome to FR.
Outrageous. However, no doubt an anti Jewish display would be okay, even applauded.
ping
"You want me to give you instructions on how to perceive what I say?"
No. It's just common courtesy. So since there is no sarcasm tag and the subject was Palestinian terrorism and you seem to be implying that it is a strictly religious exhibit and you seem to agree that exhibits should be banned because of the potential of a violent response THEN I "perceive" your comments as idiotic.
/no sarcasm
Perhaps there is something wrong with your "perceiver".
Sad news for this PSU grad to read.
You are correct.
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