CAUTION: CONTENT MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS
An art exhibit in Strathcona County is causing quite the controversy. The exhibit is designed by local artist, Spyder Yardley-Jones. It is titled “I’m amazed we made it out of the swamp” and it criticizes big oil and greed.
Dozens of cartoon-like pictures make up the display at the Strathcona Country Art Gallery @501. Signage is posted outside of the gallery, warning people it may be offensive to some. There is also a curtain sectioning off a few of the pieces.
While decision makers want to distance themselves from the controversy, the Mayor of Strathcona County was made aware of the display earlier this week.
“As many art displays are, of course, they may be subject to personal interpretation,” Mayor Linda Osinchuk said adding, “I personally, when I viewed it, did not like it.”
She says she has received numerous calls from concerned residents, requesting the exhibit be shut down.
“We don’t try to get involved with the selection process. It just seems that it has struck a cord, emotionally for a lot of people.”
Many of those concerns come with respect to the fact that the exhibit is displayed in a publically funded building.
“We have to be very cognizant of our residents and where it’s being placed.”
Now, council is stepping in. It will decide whether or not the exhibit will stay or go, at a council meeting next week.
“That’s my role and our role as elected officials to kind of decipher, is this appropriate art that should be in a county building where taxpayers are contributing to it? That will be the discussion that the council will have.”
These are two of the pictures that seem to be evoking reaction, by artist Spyder Yardley-Jones.
The first is striking a cord with an association that helps victims of violence and sexual assault. Garnett Genuis from Saffron Centre understands the artist has a right to his own opinion but, thinks the artwork is inappropriate and wants the exhibit removed.
“We understand it’s an attempt at political satire but, indirectly I think it does trivialize gender based violence,” he said adding, “We don’t think it’s appropriate, we don’t think it’s an effective or reasonable way of trying to communicate a political message and we don’t think it’s the kind of thing that’s appropriate for a public and publically funded art gallery.”
The altView Foundation, which provides resources and support to sexual minorities, was made aware of the exhibit because of the photo that uses a homophobic slur. Bryan Mortensen with the foundation says he actually loved the exhibit.
“It’s absolutely offensive but, it’s intentionally offensive and, if anything it’s calling out the idea that fag can be used that way.”
He doesn’t believe the use of the word ‘fag’ was designed to put people down.
“It’s not gratuitous. It’s meant to engage people of the idea that people will use that word to describe people who don’t fit their world view.”
Mortensen says the whole point of an art gallery is to display pieces that will engage the community, and believes the exhibit should stay.
“I think we have a major problem if we’re considering pulling art from an art gallery,” he said adding, “At the end of the day it’s engaging people about that idea so, in a lot of ways it’s a very good thing to be talking about.”
Like it or not, the final decision of whether the exhibit will remain at the art gallery will be made by council on Tuesday. Council will also be discussing its policy of how art is selected for the gallery.
With files from Kendra Slugoski.
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