Chad
Lundquist / Nevada Appeal / Artist Megan Asire, 16, who goes by the name of
La Mer, sits next to the artwork on Wednesday that provoked someone to pull
down 65 of her 75 pieces being exhibited at the Brewery Arts Center in
Carson City. |
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Artist's works taken down:
Pictures considered offensive were anonymously removed from a display at the
Brewery Arts Center Jarid Shipley November 18, 2005
CARSON CITY - With titles like "The
Christian Addiction," "Inoculation" and "Killjoy," artist Megan Asire, who goes
by La Mer, hopes to evoke emotion with her work. But she never expected the
reaction she got from one patron over the weekend.
Someone took down 65 of the 75 pieces being
exhibited at Carson City's Brewery Arts Center, causing slight damage to four of
them, after several parents and children said the works were inappropriate for
an area where children could see them. Several of her works contain images of
violence and sexuality.
"A few of the parents expressed some
concern about a couple of the pieces and then one person took down most of the
art over the weekend," said Chris Willson, program director for the Brewery Arts
Center. "We have spoken with the group that was here and told them that nobody
but employees of the center or the artist has the authority to do that and we
will speak with the individual as well. We have also worked with the artist to
maybe take down some of the pieces at her discretion."
Asire said that while she was shocked that
someone would take down her work, she wasn't upset.
"I found it rather entertaining that it got someone so emotional that they took
it down. That's what I try to do with my art, I want to provoke an emotion, no
matter if it is good, bad or ugly," said the 16-year-old Asire.
Because of her use of religious symbols, Asire said some people see her works as
anti-Christian, something she said is not true.
"They might think these works are
anti-Christian or pornographic or violent but I believe it's not about the
content of the art, but about the quality and the meaning. I grew up around this
stuff in art. I grew up knowing that if it was in art it's OK if it represents
something or means something to the artist," she said.
Asire said it's important to be exposed to
a variety of images and ideas, especially through art.
"If parents shelter their kids from this, (children) are still going to be
exposed to it and they can rebel," said Asire.
The pieces in her exhibit titled "The Coma and the Horrible Hearts" include a
drawing of Jesus on the cross with his face covered with red paint and a
scantily clad woman striking a pose.
"I titled it that way because I like the
idea of the horrible hearts and because there are people who live there lives in
a coma, only caring what goes on in their own little world. I know a lot of
people who aren't like that, but I know a lot of people who are," said Asire.
Asire's exhibit opened Nov. 5 and will be
on display through Dec. 3.
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