UB's Katz and Sullivan Will Discuss Museums, Censorship at Albright Knox This Month

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo Department of Visual Studies and the Humanities Institute, in partnership with the Albright Knox Art Gallery, will present a conversation on the controversy surrounding the recent Smithsonian exhibition "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture," co-curated by Jonathan D. Katz, director of the UB doctoral program in visual studies, on Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. in the Albright-Knox auditorium.

The controversy over this, the first major museum queer exhibition in U.S. history, had to do with the Smithsonian's decision to remove David Wojnarowicz's film "Fire in My Belly" from the exhibition after objections about its content from Catholic League President Bill Donohue led to official complaints by Reps. John Boehner and Eric Kantor.

Joining the discussion will be Katz, Richard Kurin, undersecretary for history, art and culture at the Smithsonian Institution, and Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, professor of law and director of the Law, Religion and Culture Program at UB. The conversation will be moderated by Albright-Knox Art Gallery Curator Heather Pesanti.

More information is available at http://www.albrightknox.org/programs-and-events/event:09-25-2011-2-00pm-panel-discussion-museums-and-censorship/.