Detroit Free Press – November 1999

A tempest in a teapot, or more precisely a brouhaha about "Bathtub Jesus," is playing out at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Because of the noise about New York’s "Sensation" exhibit, it is probably getting more attention than it deserves.

A tempest comes under the name "Van Gogh’s Ear," a five-day installation that was to run from last Wednesday through Sunday, one in a weekly series for an ongoing effort from artist Jef Bourgeau called "Art Until Now." Museum representatives tried to negotiate some changes with the artist three days into the five day exhibit, and were unsuccessful. DIA Director Graham Beal then closed the door on the installation Friday.

The points of controversy were "Bathtub Jesus," which was a doll with a condom, and a racial slur in another title card. Other potentially offensive elements were a vial of urine and a menstruation video.

The display apparently evoked artwork that has become part of the de rigueur shock list cited by critics of public arts funding. That the exhibit was designed in part as comment on earlier controversies makes it an intriguing proposition.

But Beal deserves some benefit of the doubt, being new in town and still in pain after getting hit by a car in Royal Oak Nov. 11. His handling of this exhibit may not be an indication that he’ll always play it safe, or that he underestimates the sophistication of folks who frequent the museum.

We certainly hope not, anyway. Art isn’t a play-it-safe genre, and the DIA has some excellent examples of controversy, from the Rivera murals to Whistler’s "Falling Rocket." That, too, is a concept worth defending.