HRC, the gay rights organization too in the closet to have something like gay in its name, and whose symbol of an equal sign is also designed to be as un-gay as possible, thinks it’s going to advance gay rights by asking for less and being more “moderate.”
Revolting.
Catholic Bishops giving the Nazi salute in honor of Hitler
From Common Dreams
Antonin Scalia, the man most likely to be our next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, turned history on its head recently when he attended an Orthodox synagogue in New York and claimed that the Founders intended for their Christianity to play a part in government. Scalia then went so far as to suggest that the reason Hitler was able to initiate the Holocaust was because of German separation of church and state.
The Associated Press reported on November 23, 2004, “In the synagogue that is home to America’s oldest Jewish congregation, he [Scalia] noted that in Europe, religion-neutral leaders almost never publicly use the word ‘God.’”
“Did it turn out that,” Scalia asked rhetorically, “by reason of the separation of church and state, the Jews were safer in Europe than they were in the United States of America?” He then answered himself, saying, “I don’t think so.”
The article, by Thom Hartmann, goes on to provide some useful history of church and state in Germany and the USA.
[photo from NoBeliefs.com]
Brooke Coen sang Christmas carols on Saturday during the Parade of Lights in downtown Denver.
Steve Peterson for The New York Times
I was reading an article about people outraged over the PUBLIC holiday displays in Denver not being Christian enough.
For many years, this city’s annual Parade of Lights was as bland as butter and content to be so. Organized by the local business community, the event shunned politics and anything remotely smacking of controversy, including openly religious Christmas themes that might offend.
The star was Santa, not Jesus, and the mood was bouncy, commercial and determinedly secular.
This year, Jesus came anyway. A local evangelical Christian church called the Faith Bible Chapel sought but failed to get permission for a religious-themed float with a choir singing hymns and carols. By coincidence, Denver’s mayor chose this year to change the traditional banner on the roof of the City and County Building. “Merry Christmas” was out. “Happy Holidays” was in.
Like a spark in dry tinder, the result was a flare-up that caught even some church leaders by surprise. A holiday rite that had drawn thousands of paradegoers annually suddenly became a symbol, for many Christians, of secular society run amok.
I was struck by the name in the caption. I don’t know anyone named Coen that sings Christmas carols.
It’s only Monday, but I think I just saw the worst workout ensemble of the week:
So, I never got around to writing my MoMA post, as James did. OK, here is one thought:
While I was intrigued to see how much of the work in the photography area had political/social/anti-war themes, I was surprised to see no work by Nan Goldin. Does someone have an agenda? I saw a whole wall for Cindy Sherman, and another for Philip-Lorca diCorcia. While I appreciate both of them, I don’t think they are any more important than she is, or Mark Morrisroe is.
Slight non-sequitur: The only good thing about Trump Tower is that the tourists walking along Fifth Avenue in the afternoon seem lit and ready for a photo by Philip-Lorca diCorcia or Beat Streuli.
Paul P., Untitled, 2004
graphite on paper, 13 1/4 × 11 inches
Paul P. just keeps getting better. We’re thrilled to know him, and to have a couple of his drawings and one painting.
More images and info is availabe from the gallery web site: Galerie Lisa Ruyter.
I was near Tiffany today after going to the dentist. I went by to see the windows, which are decorated with drawing based on the Christmas cards that Andy Warhol did for Tiffany early in his career. They can be found in the book Greetings from Andy: Christmas at Tiffany’s. The drawings aren’t that exciting. I was more moved by the various quotes from his diaries about wrapping presents, or how he always thought of mother at Christmas-time. The quotes were directly on the glass, with the date of entry.
My enjoyment was marred by a Salvation Army guy singing Christmas carols WITH AMPLIFICATION right in front of the store. Apparently the Police allow religious people to use such electronics, but they arrest people in demonstrations for using them. It’s sweet, isn’t it, that a homophobic organization like the SA can use them to raise more money?
Remember people, they believe in firing gay people and refusing to hire them while accepting public tax money to provide services. Don’t give them a penny, and if you’re feeling confrontational, tell them why as you walk by. Do it for all the good fairies like Andy.
P.S. There is a great show of Warhol paintings and drawings from the 70s at Paul Kasmin through December 24.
We don’t really “do” Xmas or any other big gift-giving holidays, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like to buy art at good prices at the various holiday art shows that spring up in December. My picks:
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UPDATED: Just got an email from Jim Kempner Fine Art about their holiday sale. It says:
The holiday season has begun, and Jim Kempner Fine Art would like to present a wonderful selection of art gift ideas priced at $2,500 and under. The three lists below include work by Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Christo, Jeff Koons, Robert Mangold, Robert Motherwell, Ed Ruscha, James Siena, Lisa Yuskavage and many others. If you would like visuals of anything on the list or a more extensive list of our inventory, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone (212) 206-6872 or email at info@jimkempner.com. Holiday Gift Certificates are also available, and we have just inaugurated our new Wedding Registry!
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5, and by appointment.
[Image captured from CNN homepage]
Tonight Next Wednesday we’re going to the members’ preview of East Village USA at the New Museum (Chelsea location). I recommend reading Gary Indiana’s Memories of the East Village Art Scene in New York Magazine before you go. Dare I say that the magazine seems to be getting more interesting?
For the alternative to the New Museum show, we have East Village ASU, at the resurrected (at least for this show) B-Side Gallery.
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UPDATED: This is why I maintain the art calendar most of the time, not James. He had the opening on the wrong date in his calendar.