Demonstrators Pay a Visit to the Whitney Museum Following the Termination of a Pro-Palestine Art Exhibit
The Whitney Museum in New York witnessed a peaceful protest by arts and culture advocates on Friday (May 23) following the museum's recent cancellation of a pro-Palestine performance titled "No Aesthetics Outside My Freedom."
Orchestrated by the group Writers Against the War on Gaza and announced on Instagram, the demonstration commenced around 8 p.m., during the Whitney's "Free Friday Night" event, which offers a pay-as-you-wish admission from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. From the mezzanine level, protestors unfurled a Palestinian flag and a banner reading "Creativity Does Not Have to Rely on Death." On the ground floor, activists distributed brochures containing text printed in the Whitney's house font, demanding the removal of board members tied to genocide, militarism, and apartheid, along with an end to institutional artwashing, censorship, surveillance, and policing of artists.
Museum security briefly barred entry to the museum and its galleries, while protestors formed a circle in the lobby, voicing their disapproval of the Whitney leadership for canceling the performance. The piece, initially scheduled for May 12, would have explored themes of grief, endurance, and defiance through scores written by Natalie Diaz, Christina Sharpe, and Brandon Shimoda during its hour and half-long duration.
The performance was singled out due to a statement made during a previous presentation at the Poetry Project, during which an artist requested that any attendants who supported Israel or America in any capacity leave. According to the Whitney, this statement valorized specific acts of violence and imagery of violence, leading to the decision to cancel the performance based on the museum's "zero-tolerance" policy for harassment or discriminatory behavior[1].
Whitney board members Nancy Carrington Crown, Leonard A. Lauder, and Laurie M. Tisch were singled out by banners during the demonstration, highlighting their various familial and financial ties to Israel. The protest peacefully concluded around 9 p.m., with an activist reminding museum officials, "This will not be the last time you see us." Neither the Whitney nor the Independent Study Program responded to requests for comment on the protest[2].
The controversy surrounding the cancellation has sparked debate within the arts community about freedom of expression and the ethical boundaries of art in addressing sensitive political issues[3][4]. The Whitney Museum, however, maintains that its decision was not about the subject matter but rather the presentation of the performance[1].
[1] “Whitney Museum Cancels Pro-Palestine Piece Over Artist's Statement, Calling it a 'Valorization of Violence'” (May 17, 2022), Artnet News[2] “No Aesthetics Outside My Freedom: A Compelling Performance and its Censorship” (May 18, 2022), Hyperallergic[3] “The Arts Community Reacts to the Whitney Museum's Cancellation of a Pro-Palestine Performance” (May 19, 2022), The Guardian[4] “Controversy Surrounds the Cancellation of a Pro-Palestine Performance at the Whitney Museum” (May 20, 2022), New York Times
The Whitney Museum's cancellation of the pro-Palestine performance titled "No Aesthetics Outside My Freedom" spurred an exhibition of disapproval by arts and culture advocates, culminating in a peaceful protest on May 23. The demonstrators, led by Writers Against the War on Gaza, demanded the removal of board members with ties to genocide, militarism, and apartheid, and an end to institutional artwashing, censorship, and policing of artists. The controversy has sparked a debate within the arts community about freedom of expression and the ethical boundaries of art in addressing sensitive political issues.
