University of Alaska Art Department Chairman Mariano Gonzales' installation, Please Remind Us....Why Are Americans Still Dying in the Middle East, is currently up at the Alaska Pacific University's Conoco-Phillips Gallery, in Grant Hall. Late Thursday, Gonzales was informed that the installation is inappropriate, and will have to come down far sooner than it was supposed to be shown. Prof. Gonzales visited the alternative space. Here is his statement:The APU administration has agreed to continue my exhibition, but at at the Carr-Gottstein gallery instead of its present location. I consider this to be a good faith effort on the part of APU not to censor my show. I am also cognizant of some of their concerns relevant to a children's theater production happening there on Oct.16. So I agreed.
But, after reviewing the CG gallery space I have concluded that the exhibition simply will not not fit. The lighting is too bright, and the layout of the area, including the arrangement of elements in that space make it impossible to recreate the solemnity of my exhibition.
My show was designed specifically for the Conoco Phillips gallery. It would probably fit in a similarly arranged space elsewhere, but the Carr Gottstein is unsuitable as it is essentially a lounge area with enough wall space to hang pictures.
My exhibition would look so out of place there that even the sophisticated viewer would find cause to complain!
But I won't go back on my word, so on October 15 at 6:00 pm I will put away the flags, and remove the comments that so many have left; mostly pro and some con.
It may be possible in the future to find another venue for the display. For now, I hope that APU will allow me to leave in place of my exhibit a placard with final comments on this experience.
I'll be performing a new version of Shards - Shards V - for bugle, electronics and electronic sound, on October 15th, at 4:00 p.m, in the gallery, as the show begins to be taken down.