Comments

1
I love the notion that the bolded question really has you stroking your chin.
2
Regardless of the legality of the economy, art trumps vandalism every time. Creating something new has to be worth more than destruction.

"The opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation."
3
Least surprising news: whores live in Fremont.
4
Hmmm lets see, drug dealers and prostitues had to move across the street vs smashing in car windows/store windows...Yeah thats a real tough one.
5
@ 1. I'm not really stroking my chin—more like playfully poking Slog in the ribs.
6
"If you disrupt an illegal economy with "art," is it better or worse as disrupting a legal economy with "vandalism"?"

Given the fact that elderly residents of Chinatown are genuinely scared shitless of the drug dealing going on in their neighborhood, what do you think, Brendan?
7
Nothing a few destructive taggers couldn't mess up.

Dance may be art, but tagging is 99.99 percent art-free.
8
This sounds awesome. Exactly what we dream art can be.
9
Storefronts Seattle withdrew its sponsorship of Spectrum Dance Theater’s performances in the Bush Hotel. The program cited dramatic sexual depictions and implied nudity as the reason for the withdrawal.

Without support from Storefronts Seattle, Spectrum Dance Theater must vacate the Bush Hotel. Performances for the remainder of the run are cancelled until further notice. Spectrum is seeking alternate venues.
10
After our opening night performance, Storefronts Seattle withdrew sponsorship of the Miraculous Mandarin in the Bush Hotel. They cited dramatic sexual depictions and implied nudity as the reason for shutting it down. Without support from Storefronts Seattle, Spectrum Dance Theater must vacate the Bush Hotel. Performances for the remainder of the run are cancelled until further notice. Spectrum is seeking alternate venues.

In the end, after weeks of preparation in the space and neighborhood, everyone involved in the production, Donald Byrd, the dancers, the production team, the staff, really cared about what the locals thought. Thanks for reporting on how we did. Too bad it was only one night.
11
I am so fortunate to have attended Spectrum's performance last night. The reaction of the audience was priceless. Censorship of an artistic endeavor should not be tolerated, Seattle citizens need to voice their objections loudly and often. The Strange Miraculous Man is an important work that kept me breathless as I observed the world of the performers as a voyeur. Bravo to Mr. Byrd and the Spectrum Dancr Theater Dancers.
12
Let me just say here that we were very sad to have to make this decision today.

Storefronts Seattle is a neighborhood activation program, bringing artists' work to vacant storefront windows and activating the streetscape. See www.storefrontsseattle.com for more. We've activated more than 25 storefronts in 5 neighborhoods with dozens and dozens of projects by serious contemporary artists.

The work in our program is vetted by representatives from neighborhood groups, property owners, and arts professionals, and we're fairly strict in the application of a General Audiences litmus test for programming. These are windows that are, by their nature, very much in the public realm, and the work we present has to be appropriate for any 4- or 5-year-old to see. We obviously have no way of controlling access to our work, and so it has to be appropriate for all to access. I am clear about this with all of our partners, artists, funders, and properties.

We had assurances from Spectrum that this was the case with The Miraculous Mandarin, but after last night's performance it was clear that the work was, in fact, not as it had been represented to us. It was just too sexually explicit for the young kids who were running through the park last night, and therefore too sexually explicit for our program.

I think that often, when people talk about work intended for "mature audiences," they really mean the opposite of that -- they mean that it's titillating work designed for immature audiences. I think that Miraculous Mandarin really is designed for a mature, thinking, savvy audience. I think that the sexuality in the show was used for actual dramatic effect, and I hope that the intended mature audience gets to ultimately see the show. But the Storefronts Seattle program was simply the wrong venue for the work.

Thanks
Matthew Richter
Storefronts Seattle
13
This is BY FAR one thing that I will truly miss and always appreciate about Seattle...it is a wonderful playground and vast canvas of possibilities for artists and art enthusiasts of ALL kinds. KUDOS TO DONALD BYRD and SPECTRUM DANCE THEATER!!!...Keep it pushin'! :~)
14
@5

And yet you haven't shown any inclination to regard people comparing May Day protests to Kristalnacht and cross-burning as playfully poking Brendan Kiley in the ribs...
15
Brendan, Glad to know Seattle performance is still alive and well and still being shut down when it's too controversial. But at least it's still happening. Makes me miss the good ol' days... And thanks for the shout out! -an old Piece of Meater
16
And to think, Richter used to run Conworks, which was committed to challenging work. Now he's working for the mayor and shutting stuff down when it offends local sensibilities. Sigh.
17
...and what is "implied" nudity, btw? Sounds like some invented shit. Either your ass gets nekkid or not.
18
Interesting. People bring their kids to Las Vegas all the time, and there is nudity and advertising for stip clubs and escorts everywhere in the public eye. Yet, in Seattle, a serious dance work gets shut down for "dramatic sexual depictions" and "implied nudity!" And the work does not promote pornography and drug dealing, nor have actual nudity. Really? In an area full of prostitutes and drug dealers, the piece was an opportunity and a whole lot healthier for the kids than running around a park filled with old needles and used condoms. This makes no sense and smacks of simple censorship.

Please wait...

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