Oct 1, 2012
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Artwork made from semen is causing a stir in Grand Rapids, Mich. after the paintings were included in a city-wide art competition — partially funded by tax dollars.
The three paintings were created using slightly more than four ounces of semen infected with HIV, according to the artist — EA Conner.
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“These paintings were created as a reminder that we all come in contact with people every day who are HIV positive,” he wrote on his ArtPrize profile page. “The red spots on the Scorpion and Bio-hazard paintings are actual HIV positive semen and the gold spots on the Red Ribbon painting are HIV positive.”
ArtPrize is an international art competition hosted by Grand Rapids and open to “any artist and decided by public vote, promoting critical dialogue and collaboration throughout the year.”
The competition is also partially funded by city, state, and federal tax dollars. A spokesperson for ArtPrize told Fox News they received $20,000 from the city of Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority and $3,100 from the Michigan Counsel of Arts & Cultural Affairs.
In 2011, the organization received a National Endowment for the Arts grant worth $100,000.
The bulk of their $2.1 million budget comes from private donations, the spokesperson said.
The controversial exhibit is currently displayed in a downtown nightclub.
“ArtPrize neither funds the installation or production of any art exhibited during the 19-day event, and corporate and private dollars fund all of our prizes and awards,” the spokesperson said.
They stressed that it was simply one out of more than 1,500 art installations by more than 1,700 artists.
So what’s ArtPrize’s reaction to the semen painting?
“ArtPrize is a radically open art competition and social experiment,” the spokesman told Fox News. “Each year, it offers an increasingly diverse mixture of art, none of which is selected or curated by the ArtPrize organization or its staff.”
Local residents aren’t sure what to make of the paintings — and voiced their opinions on Fox 17’s Facebook page.
“There’s an uneasiness of it to it, it does make me feel a little uncomfortable, but at the same time, I get it.” Audrey Caldwell of Kalamazoo told Fox 17.
“I wish I could be police or politically correct,” one reader wrote. “This art is disgusting and truly nasty.”
“Definitely makes a statement that’s for sure, Kirk DePierre added.
“I am all for art and liberating messages, but that is gross,” another reader added.
Yet the display did have some supporters.
“Freedom of speech people,” one reader wrote. “While i find it disgusting, and question the bio hazard on display I’m reminded that in someone’s mind this is art.”
FOX News Talk
What twisted minds the arts are supporting now!
You have to be a real purist to see this as "Art". What a load of crap….pun intended.
I think it's kind of interesting. Unsettling, but gets the point across and raises awareness.
Jay Shepherd I have to admit a bias against what some people consider "Art". I was at the Guggenheim in Bilbao a while ago, and there was some stuff in there that I would have put out with the trash, honestly. Unbelievable, but I guess that's "expression"?! (insert rolling eyes emoticon)
Hey, we agree on something. Amazing!!!
Hey, we agree on something. Amazing!!!
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz
Yeah, I hear ya. There was a study done on whether people could tell the difference between art done by children or chimps and those of reputable artists. They usually could, but not by that much.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/03/14/a-child-couldn%E2%80%99t-paint-that-%E2%80%93-can-people-tell-abstract-art-from-a-child%E2%80%99s-or-chimp%E2%80%99s-work/
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz
Yeah, I hear ya. There was a study done on whether people could tell the difference between art done by children or chimps and those of reputable artists. They usually could, but not by that much.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/03/14/a-child-couldn%E2%80%99t-paint-that-%E2%80%93-can-people-tell-abstract-art-from-a-child%E2%80%99s-or-chimp%E2%80%99s-work/
Paul Robinson
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Paul Robinson
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz
Are you familiar with the jerk on here named Joel Rivera?
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz
Are you familiar with the jerk on here named Joel Rivera?
Jay Shepherd Oh yes, Jay–lol—we have a "history"–Joel has blocked me, banned me, whatever you call it. I can't technically see his posts, and I don't know if he can see mine. I beat his butt in too many arguments and he got mad and blocked me. The cyber-equivalent of putting your fingers in your ears and going "LA LA LA LA LA!!!"" lol.
Jay Shepherd Interesting article, by the way!
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz
LOL! He did the same thing to me! He would just say the stupidest things on here and I would shoot down his arguments and eviscerate them with facts and he couldn't handle it.
Besides all the threats he made against me he actually incorporated me into his personal page.
Typical pathetic conservative, he is.
Jay Shepherd Yeah, he's a true Student of the Echo Chamber. Only wants to hear what he wants to hear. Well, take it as a complement that you unsettled him so! I guess I"m in good company then!
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz
We both are. I appreciate your posts! Gotta keep those conservatives and religious zealots in line!
I don't even want to think about what Connor used as a paint brush. Yikes!
Just one moe reminder of the deviants who first were exposed to it and then intentionally spread it to the straight' population, because the selfish basturds felt that the disease was not getting enough attention.
Just another "wonderful" reminder of the of that minority that is forcing themselves into our schools and military. Then they march down the streets of America screetching "g*y pride".
Political Correctness run amuck!
Just one moe reminder of the deviants who first were exposed to it and then intentionally spread it to the straight' population, because the selfish basturds felt that the disease was not getting enough attention.
Just another "wonderful" reminder of the of that minority that is forcing themselves into our schools and military. Then they march down the streets of America screetching "g*y pride".
Political Correctness run amuck!
I like the scorpion picture but not so much the other two. Art is subjective. Some you like, some you don't. If you don't like it, don't buy it. This competition is, apparently, open to all, and the public decides the winners. Sounds like free market capitalism to me. If Starnes and his adherents don't like some of the pieces, DON'T VOTE FOR THEM. It ain't rocket science, folks. Don't try to dictate taste.
One would have to be high on their own flatulence to consider something this disgusting and sickening, art. This is a waste of taxpayer money and does not meet the conventions at all for what is considered art. This is just as equally vile as he "Piss Christ" and unnecessary. There are other ways to for one to express their imagination rather than resorting to gutter shock and twisted perversion. It's just a travesty and an injustice that the taxpayers hard earned money is being given freely to these low lives to transpose what they see in their sick and depraved imagination onto canvas and to dare to call it art when it's really nothing but sick nauseating trash. It's obvious what this artist has oozing on his brain.
I heard that Hannity and Starnes investigated this story personally by licking the pictures
When my son was 5, he painted a picture just like this.
Look up the saying "Epater les bourgeois." Loosely translated, it means "Shock the middle class" in French. To one degree or another, all art that has been transformative or genre-changing has done this. It shocked people when Picasso put both eyes on the same side of the head in his paintings. But…Picasso art was truly revolutionary. So many mediocre artists have no transformative or revolutionary concepts to share. All they are able to do is to "shock the squares." Frankly, EA Conner's above picture looks to me like an ad for Ballantine Ale. It is very mediocre, but politically correct. AIDS deaths are not more tragic than any other. Recognize diversity, but CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE. Excellent this is not.
hmmm… well I'm an artist, and I use birds, dark bread, old sandwiches, dirt, flarn pastry bits, sand , more dirt , hummous, socks, lint , and ashtrays to make MY art.. and I don't see artprize t.m. giving me any money! bubblekitty dot com.
All who are repulsed by this piece of art are not forced to see it. However, there is a powerful message behind it, so at least give it that much credit. Quit trying to fabricate controversy. I live in GR and have not met one outraged ArtPrize patron, so it would seem that your idea that this piece of art is "causing a stir" is unfounded.
All who are repulsed by this piece of art are not forced to see it. However, there is a powerful message behind it, so at least give it that much credit. Quit trying to fabricate controversy. I live in GR and have not met one outraged ArtPrize patron, so it would seem that your idea that this piece of art is "causing a stir" is unfounded.