Florida Art Director Fired After TV Discussion of Graphic Work on Bush

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBTGPU6HBE.html

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - An art gallery director says she was fired for talking on television about a sexually explicit caricature involving President Bush, an Arab sheik and a barrel of oil.

Susan Buzzi was the Broward Art Guild's executive director and had worked with its gallery for more than 10 years.

Buzzi and Alfred Phillips, who painted the piece, were among several people interviewed by comedian Ed Helms in a spoof news report of the art controversy on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" several weeks ago.

Buzzi said she was told Wednesday that her "services are no longer required" at the gallery.

[w13rd0]

1. omfg

someone was FIRED for appearing on the Daily Show, and discussing an art exhibit called "Controversy"...

welcome to the twilight zone

[Democat]

2. She was recently in a fight with governmetn officials over anti-Bush art

An explicit art piece at the private, nonprofit Broward Art Guild was removed from its prominent position in the gallery after the agency's director received a phone call from the county's Department of Cultural Affairs, which partially funds the group.

County Administrator Roger Desjarlais said Thursday the phone call placed by department director Mary Becht -- and the subsequent decision to take the painting off the wall -- will lead to an internal discussion of whether county agencies have the right to influence artistic decisions or fund certain exhibits.

The Broward Art Guild's annual exhibit, entitled "Controversy," caught the attention of Becht when she received a complaint from another artist in the show that an art piece entitled "Yahoo!" was offensive and inappropriate.

"It's not every day that you get a call from the director of cultural affairs at your home," said guild director Susan Buzzi. "Of course I took it very seriously."

http://www.floridatonight.com/dynamicnewspage-checkid-7368.html

Probably some Republicans in the government didn't like artwork that questioned the government so she had to be fired.

[Hissyspit]

3. It's un-American to criticize your government!

Unless it's a bumper sticker from the Clinton years that says "He's Not MY Commander-In-Chief"

That's o.k.

/sarcasm

[greyl]

4. Science and Art are under attack from the right.

I hope we have them out-flanked like I think we do.

[wli]

7. If we don't, the Chinese will simply dump bonds and bankrupt the US.

No one's going to put up with this for long. And if we get sanctions slapped on us, bye bye petrodollar, hello hyperinflation.

[Joey Liberal]

5. So much for freedom of expression

We are living in a Bush world and it SUCKS.

[Up2Late]

6. OMG This is Unbelievable!

:wtf: I so wish I had a "Scanners" smilie that would tremble then explode. This is NUTS!

[Up2Late]

8. Kick n/t

:kick:

[Behind the Aegis]

9. I wonder...

...will TDS comment on this?

[shanti]

10. florida, yet again...

this is becoming redundant. wonder who put them up to it??