More Drama....

(Via the Edmonton Journal's Letters Page)

Art's message isn't always pretty

Re: "Scrap sculptures, mayor says: Mandel reacts after Hindu community complains pieces disrespectful," The Journal, Sept. 19

The rights of the individual will be protected only so long as they do not conflict with the state -- that's the basis of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Didn't sculptor Ryan McCourt know that hurting someone's feelings is a crime in this country? And our illustrious mayor stepped in and removed McCourt's fundamental rights. Don't you just love fascism and political correctness when you see it for what it is?

I created the Three faces of evil sculptures that sat in the Paris and Red Strap markets for more than seven years. Those sculptures were about the evils that we all harbour in small ways. They were "the irrational, the prejudice and the politically correct" and I created them as a warning to us all that when we let them get out of control, we end up stepping on fundamental rights.

It would seem that our mayor didn't notice my art, either.

Joe Renaud, Edmonton

What to do next?

The time has come to put some serious, bold, inspiring, powerful, meaningful and beautiful art in front of the unfortunate, view-blocking, still-abominable, new wall of the Shaw Convention Centre.

Here's my suggestion: a large mural or sculpture of 100 bison, including bulls, cows and calves, running out of the wall towards 97th Street. I would love to see a herd rushing towards me as I walk south on 97th Street.

Let's not forget that Edmonton was a traditional bison crossing area on the North Saskatchewan River. One hundred bison will help commemorate the recent 100th anniversary of our city and province.

The time has come for Alberta's most exuberant piece of public art to take shape; a piece that will show that Edmonton is truly Alberta's capital city. Let us turn this unfortunate and controversial wall into something that everybody will be proud of.

Jacques Sirois, Edmonton

Freedom has its limits

Re: "Indian sculptors among the best," Letters, Sept. 23.

I found the letters regarding the Ganesha statues outside the Shaw Conference Centre intriguing.

Although free speech and art are both valued parts of our society, I think the writers may have had a one-sided perspective on this issue.

Although Ganesha may have no significance to the writers, I think that the 700 people who petitioned to have the sculptures removed are honestly offended by the depictions of their god.

Art is all well and good, but it should not be displayed on the street when it can be deemed religiously or racially intolerant.

Lasith Witharana, Edmonton

Hinduism isn't a 'sect'

Re: "Mandel oversteps bounds," by Bruce Dunbar, Letters, Sept. 23.

I can assure Bruce Dunbar that he can sleep soundly, knowing his rights and freedoms are guaranteed.

Before crying foul over how swiftly Stephen Mandel snuffed an exhibit of artwork that offended a religious group, I recommend Dunbar get his facts straight.

Dunbar relegates the Hindu faith to a mere "sect" when, in fact, it's the third largest religion in the world. Its traditions and beliefs are thousands of years old. Adherents to this religion in our city may have indeed "influenced" the mayor, but they did so in a democratic way with a petition carrying 700 signatures.

The exhibit in question was in a public space. Society may be secular, the state being separate from church, however people with religious and spiritual beliefs pay taxes too. Anyone should have the opportunity to express how money allotted for cultural funding is spent, especially if art funded by the state is offensive to a deity or belief they hold sacred.

Freedom of expression should not be hindered, however those who express themselves -- especially those assisted with funding from the state -- should consider the effects of their expression in our pluralistic society.

If Dunbar is still concerned about the scourge of the city's "officialdom," he can start a petition calling for the return of these sculptures.

Jolanta T. Breen, Edmonton

Why pick on Hindus?

Re: "Indian sculptors among the best," by Ryan McCourt, Letters, Sept. 23.

Please, spare me from the ranting of a privileged, government-grant-supported, self-serving "artiste." I am ashamed before Hindu persons of this non-starving artist.

Ryan McCourt believes that he has the right to offend Hindu people, as he is connected with Hinduism because he was "influenced" by someone who was "influenced" by Hinduism.

What would happen if a Hindu sculptor in Edmonton, on a public commission and in a public site, exhibited several large Christ figures, each one made from scrap and portraying Christ in a very sexual way? How long would that art remain on public display?

I suggest that McCourt's Ganesha sculptures only remained on public display as long as they did because the Hindu population in Edmonton is vulnerable and small and has little power.

McCourt rants like some political prisoner or an artist who has taken on political power like Diego Rivera and the Rockefeller family, or Goya and the fascists. He is not like them.

He is a self-serving, Canadian artist, with all the freedom any artist has ever had and he picks on a small, vulnerable community.

Oh how brave.

Madeline Jones, Edmonton

Sculptures no threat

I am an Indian of Hindu origin living in France. I read the news that sculptor Ryan McCourt was forced to remove his Hindu god Ganesha statues from public display because they offended Canadian Hindus.

I find nothing offensive about this, as I am a student of Indian mythology.

The artists of each generation have the right to reinterpret symbols. Of course, if a lay person desecrates Hindu symbols, the Hindu community's protest is justified. But when a reputed artist does it, it is in the long run a positive sign.

I don't find the sculptures outrageous at all. Look at the traditional tantric representations of Kali, an avatar of Parvati, the mother of Ganesha, if you want to be really shocked.

Ganesha has been depicted in all possible ways. M.F. Hussain, the Indian Picasso, has taken great freedom with Hindu symbols, provoking outrage by fanatics and appreciation by the enlightened.

The Hindu community has nothing to fear from Ryan McCourt's work. He is promoting their god in a modern, post-industrial avatar. The traditional Ganesha can be seen everywhere, even at your neighbourhood Indian store, for the sensitive believer.

I pray to Ganesha to protect the artists from narrow-mindedness.

Krishna Bagdiya,

Aix-en-Provence, France