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December 6, 2002
JCC plans to set policy on art
Artist comments on censorship after controversial painting is
removed.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
The board of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC)
will address the thorny issue of censorship at a board meeting,
probably early in the new year.
The issue has arisen over a painting that was removed from an exhibit
at the centre, featuring collected works of the local artist Jeannie
Kamins.
The painting in question is a portrait of Svend Robinson, member
of Parliament for Burnaby-Douglas. Robinson has been an outspoken
critic of Israeli government policy affecting Palestinians.
Kamins said that she was asked to remove the painting after several
people complained that they were offended by the portrait of a politician
with whom they held starkly different views. But Kamins, who is
a former employee of the JCC, said she included the portrait not
as a political statement, but because it is an example of one of
her best works. She was hesitant to criticize the JCC over the incident,
but issued a written statement saying she had no intention of offending
anyone.
"Although I am personally hurt by the removal of my portrait,
the removal of this particular piece is not important in itself,"
Kamins wrote in an e-mail to the Bulletin. "What is
important is why it was removed and how decisions of exclusion are
determined at the Jewish Community Centre. I have been assured by
Gerry Zipursky, [executive] director of the Jewish Community Centre,
that he will bring these issues to the board of directors to develop
policy regarding censorship and images that provoke dissent within
the community. If any in the community wish to contribute to the
dialogue, I suggest they write their views to the board of directors
of the JCC."
Kamins said she has spoken with members of the community who were
offended by the portrait of Robinson, but who disagreed with its
removal on grounds of free expression.
This is the second time Kamins has been at loggerheads with the
JCC over artists depictions, she wrote.
"The first time was when I was cultural arts co-ordinator at
the JCC," Kamins stated. "Both times were because members
with conservative views objected to works that questioned Israeli
policy.
"I have defended artistic freedom throughout my career. I have
written on the subject and have curated exhibitions across Canada
that deal with issues of censorship. Even so, I believe that a community
gallery should be respectful of community standards of sexuality
and violent imagery. But, I do not believe that censorship should
include the elimination of dialogue and diverse perspectives."
Zipursky downplayed the incident, saying the artist agreed to take
the painting down when told that some people, particularly Holocaust
survivors, found it offensive.
"It was not removed," he said. "It was taken down
by the artist."
Zipursky told the artist he would raise the issue with the board
in a future meeting, but told the Bulletin the incident should
not be extrapolated into a larger issue of free expression at the
JCC.
The organization Jews for a Just Peace has been refused meeting
space in the JCC, but Zipursky refused to be drawn into parallels
between the two incidents. The JCC attempts to avoid political controversy,
but is straightforward in its support of Israel, he said.
"We are clear about our loyalty and support and relationship
with Israel. That doesn't mean to say that there can't be freedom
of expression, but if people try to make issues political in nature,
in our view, we try to remain apolitical," said Zipursky, adding
that the two events should not be linked.
"I think it would be a mistake to try to liken it or compare
[the Jews for a Just Peace issue] to the issue with art," said
Zipursky.
The JCC just elected a new board and there is a broad agenda to
be addressed by the new board, so Zipursky could not say exactly
when the issue of free expression will be dealt with, but he insisted
it will be discussed thoroughly.
"It's going to be done," said Zipursky.
Pat Johnson is a native Vancouverite, a journalist and
commentator.
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