Apologies for all the >s.
Alec
> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Sixteen Beaver
[SMTP:lists at 16beavergroup.org]
> >> <mailto:[SMTP:lists at 16beavergroup.org]>
> >> Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 2:18 AM
> >> To: general at 16beavergroup.org
> >> Subject: Ayreen/Rene/Tanya-Re: White Box Closure
> >>
> >>
> >> Ayreen/Rene/Tanya-Re: White Box Closure
> >>
> >> Dear friends and colleagues,
> >>
> >> As some of you may know, the opening for
RadioActive, our most
recent
> >> audio
> >> project, was prevented Wednesday night because of
the closure of
White Box
> >> by the Homeland Security Cultural Bureau.
> >>
> >> Shocked and devastated, we have spent the last
day and a half
trying to
> >> piece together the puzzle. It has been difficult
to get straight
answers
> >> from the Bureau or from Juan, the Director of
White Box.
> >> But below are some details from Juan's
cancellation letter to us
which
> >> give you an idea of what has been going on.
> >> "Yesterday morning Carolyn Parker Mayes, the
Director General of
the
> >> Cultural Bureau of Homeland Security ordered the
closure of White
Box.
> >> Earlier today, in an interview on NPR, Carolyn
Parker Mayes stated
that
> >> the exhibition space at White Box was used for
illegal activities
and
> >> events that OEpose a threat to national
security'. Below is a
link to the
> >> online version of the Order of Closure, they also
forced me to
post a copy
> >> of it on the window and entrance of the space.
> >> <http://www.hscb.org/csp/whitebox.htm>
> >> It is with the deepest regrets that I inform you
of the
cancellation of
> >> your exhibition, I will try to sort this out with
the Bureau and
we can
> >> hopefully reschedule for a future date. As you
know and I have
indicated
> >> this to Ms. Mayes, White Box is committed to
linking contemporary
art
> >> with current political and ethical issues, but
this should in no
way pose
> >> a threat to national security. Examples here are
abundant: the
symposium
> >> and book signing event of Joel Sternfeld
"treading on Kings:
protesting
> >> the G8 in Genoa" on April 13, 2002 ; the Public
Forum in May, 2002
> >> entitled :"Art now:
> >> Polite, Politic or Political?" sponsored by the
American Civil
Liberties
> >> Union (ACLU) and the National Coalition Against
Censorship (NCAC)
Sand
> >> many more examples.
> >> I spoke with Don Devere, deputy director general
of HSCB yesterday
at 5:00
> >> pm about the closure of the space. He said that
he could not
answer any of
> >> my questions. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a board
member of the
Cultural
> >> Bureau, and I was able to get a hold of him
through a friend. He
said
> >> that there was no discussion about it in the last
meeting they
attended.
> >> He promised to raise the issue with Tom Ridge.
He clearly stated
that
> >> this was a wrong move and that it is important to
encourage
alternative
> >> voices within Culture."
> >> We would like to ask you to raise your voice
against this closure.
It
> >> seems that people like Ms. Mayes cannot tolerate
people/organizations that
> >> are sincerely seeking social and ethical
engagement.
> >> Please forward this note as widely as possible to
all friends.
> >>
> >> Ayreen Anastas
> >> Rene Gabri
> >> Tanya Leighton
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