Transformer Provides Immediate Response to Recent Censorship

Transformer Provides Immediate Response to Recent Censorship

In early response to the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian Institution's censoring of David Wojnarowicz's 1987 video work A Fire in My Belly, from the current Hide/Seek exhibition, Transformer initiated a screening of the work in our storefront project space at 1404 P Street, NW, Washington, DC.  The work currently on view is an approximately four minute excerpt of the original thirty-minute work in progress by the artist.

Transformer will soon be showing the entire thirty-minute Wojnarowicz work in progress, with unique permission of his Estate: "I give Transformer permission to show this clearly censored work, I only wish David were alive, he would tear these censors apart."  -Tom Rauffenbart, Executor of the Estate of David Wojnarowicz.

"As a response to the censorship by the Smithsonian of Wojnarowicz's work, and in honor of World AIDS Day & Day With(out) Art, the many alternative art spaces, visual arts organizations, artists, and activists around the world that have paved the path for freedom of expression & the existence of experimental arts venues like Transformer, we feel it is our job to champion all artists' creative expression without constraints, and to continue the important dialogue Wojnarowicz's work generates about aggression, hunger, community, love, loss, as well as religion" states Victoria Reis, co-Founder, Executive & Artistic Director of Transformer.

Artistic Action Planned for Thursday, December 2:
A silent protest march from Transformer to the
National Portrait Gallery and then on to Congress.
Meet at Transformer at 5:30pm. 
The artistic action will begin at 6pm with mouths tied.


Participants are invited to download and print Rimbaud and Wojanrowicz masks created for the march by artists Geoffrey Aldridge, Grant Duncan, and Ed Rock.

For additional information, please contact Transformer at
info@transformergallery.org, or by calling 202.483.1102.

www.transformergallery.org
1404 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20010