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February 23, 2007
Letters: Library responds to ‘censorship’ charge
Brooklyn Public Library Dir. of Programs and Exhibitions, Jay Kaplan, barks back and takes a swipe at NoLandGrab:
Our “Footprints” documentation of a current neighborhood was never intended to be the previous advocacy exhibition that was displayed in Prospect Heights. The works in our exhibition were selected because they are compatible with BPL’s documentary mission and its artistic standards. The few works in the previous show that were not included were either too large, required video installation, failed to meet artistic standards or were political cartoons.
Rather than exclude art, we included nine pieces that were never displayed in Prospect Heights. We also expanded our gallery space, which typically features 32 pieces, to encompass 54 pieces.
NoLandGrab: Kaplan also lobs a dud at "blogs written by artists who exploit the very institution that brings their art to BPL’s diverse audience."
We're pretty sure that he is referring to NoLandGrab, since photographer Amy Greer is our weekend contributor. However, Amy has tried to stay out of the fray and any commentary on the Footprints exhibit was penned by Lumi Rolley, who, though she likes to scribble on a note pad during endless community meetings, is clearly not an artist.
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Truly, the Library should be commended for putting on the exhibit. However, the main criticism stands — by trying to enforce standards, they have compromised their own.
The Brooklyn Paper published another Atlantic Yards letter from Chris Owens, who ran against Yvette Clarke for Congress last year in the 40th District:
If Clarke, Jeffries and others had put Brooklyn’s interests first when it really counted, maybe Ratner would never have had the nerve to tread on Brooklyn as he continuously does. But that takes guts, not politics as usual.
The real issue is not Barclays — it is Ratner’s enduring disregard for Brooklyn in the name of profit. Maybe this is a wake-up call for some of our elected officials. Or maybe it’s time for new Brooklyn leadership.
Posted by lumi at February 23, 2007 7:23 AM