ephemera RECEPTION HISTORY

DAVID WOJNAROWICZ: “TONGUES OF FLAME” EXHIBITION

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY, NORMAL. 1990
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

“Aids art exhibit scheduled at ISU,” The Pantagraph (Bloomington,IL), September 25, 1990, pg. B6.

Blinderman, Barry, David Wojnarowicz, eds. (1990). David Wojnarowicz: Tongues of Flame. New York: Distributed Art Publishers.

Caldwell, Stephen R. “The NEA and 'Culture Wars'.” members.aol.com/uuwebman/nea_war.htm, November 14, 1993.

Here we have documentation of the reaction of President Bush and the religious right to the works of Wojnarowics exhibited in the “Tongues of Flame” show.

Conroy, Sarah Booth. “Bush Opposes Government Arts Censorship,” The Washington

Post, March 24, 1990, pg. A1.

“David Wojnarowicz interviewed by Barry Blinderman, October 1989.” www.arts.ilstu.edu/cfa/galleries/old_site/wojnint1.html.

Finan, Christopher M. and Anne F. Castro. “The Truth About Donald Wildmon.” www.onemillionlies.com/truth/WildmonTruth.php, May 19, 2003.

Excellent exhaustive history of Reverend Wildmon's attacks on the NEA, government funding of the NEA and the artists whose work he considers blasphemous, pornographic or dangerous. Lists the many television shows and corporations attacked and boycotted by the Reverend and his organizations.

Guither, Peter. “The Arts: Blasphemous, Traitorous, Homoerotic, and Pornographic,” www.thelivingcanvas.com/guither/write/article.html, October, 1990.

The author discusses the “art” created by Reverend Wildmon from the acquired images of the work of Wojnarowicz. As he claims, these were of “no artistic value” and “strictly for greedy self-serving purposes.”

Hirsh, David, “Courage and Censorship: A Conversation With David Wojnarowicz,” New York Native, May 7, 1990, pg. 19.

Hirsh, David, “Turning Tables on the Art Censors: David Wojnarowicz Sues to Prevent Misrepresentation,” New York Native, June 4, 1990, pgs. 23, 45..

Honan, William H., “Arts Endowment Withdraws Grant from AIDS Show,” The New York Times, November 9, 1989, pg. 1.

Honan, William H., “Multi-Media Artist Sues Political Action Group,” The New York Times, May 22, 1990, pg. C14.

Honan, William H., “New York Art Exhibition to Test Federal Restrictions,” The New York Times, November 8, 1989.

Honan, William H., “The Endowment vs. the Arts: Anger and Concern,” The New York Times, November 10, 1989, pg. C33.

Hughes, Robert, “Whose Art Is It, Anyway?,” TIME, June 4, 1990, pg. 46-48.

Intress, Ruth S. “Christian lawyer uses courtroom as a pulpit: Religious rights are focus,”

Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 14, 1990, pg. A1.

Leavitt, David. “Fears That Haunt a Scrubbed America.” The New York Times, August 19, 1990. Section 2, pg. 1, 27.

Considers the NEA, and more specifically artists such as Wojnarowics, as targets of the right wing politicians and religious organizations. Provides historical context for art censorship and even draws parallels to Hitler.

Masters, Kim. “Artist Sues Anti-NEA Group For Use of His Work,” The Washington

Post, May 22, 1990, pg. C1.

Masters, Kim. “NEA-Funded Art Exhibit Protested; Wildmon Mails Sexual Images to

Congress,” The Washington Post, April 21, 1990, pg. C1.

McCormick, Carlo. “Tongues of Flame,” Paper Magazine, November, 1990, pg. 30-33.

“Organization Mails Copies of ‘Filthy’ Art Images to Congress,” New York Native, May 7, 1990, pg. 12.

“NEA Targe of New Lawsuit; Agency Accused of Subsidizing Anti-Religious Art,” AP.

The Washington Post, August 30, 1990, pg. D3.

Parachini, Allan. “Flier Attacking NEA Is Suppressed By Judge,” The Record (Northern

New Jersey), June 27 1990, pg. D12.

Price, Joyce. “NEA trampled Christians’ rights, suit says,” The Washington Times,

August 30, 1990, pg. A3.

Selcraig, Bruce, “Reverend Wildmon’s War on the Arts,” The New York Times Magazine, September 2, 1990, section 6, pg. 22.

Thomas, Cal. “Hancock Opposes Arts Endowment,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 21, 1990, pg. 1C.

Three congressmen oppose the “funding of obscene and sacriligious so-called art projects.” They seek the defunding of the NEA following the opening of Wojnarowicz' “Tongues of Flame” exhibition, which includes a painting depicting Jesus shooting heroin.

Thomas, Cal. “Judge Halts Publication of Pamphlet,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 27, 1990, pg. 3D.

New York, U.S. District Judge William C. Conner issues a temporary injunction against Rev. Wildmon for his creation and distribution of a pamphlet that inaccurately depicts the work of Wojnarowicz.

Thomas, Cal. “Turning the Establishment Clause Upside Down,” Richmond Times-

Dispatch, September 13, 1990, pg. A16.

Thomas, Cal. “Use First Amendment To Combat Blasphemy,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 7, 1990, pg. 3D.