Unsettling 'Sensation': Arts-Policy Lessons from the Brooklyn Museum of Art Controversy

Rutgers Series: The Public Life of the Arts

by Lawrence Rothfield (Editor)

In September 1999, Sensation , an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, opened its doors, igniting a controversy still burning in the art world. This collection of cutting-edge art from the Saatchi collection in England, and the museum’s arrangements with Charles Saatchi to finance the show, so offended New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani that he attempted to shut the museum down by withholding city funds that are crucially needed by that institution. Only a legal ruling prevented him from doing so. Like the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition before it, Sensation once again raises questions about public spending for “controversial” art, but with the added dimension of religious conflict and charges of commercialization.

The contributors to this volume use the Sensation exhibition as a stepping-stone to analyze larger questions such as the authority the government has to withhold funds, various interpretations of the First Amendment, how to respect divergent cultural and religious values; and the economic stake of museums and dealers in art. In their articles—written expressly for this volume, and spanning the disciplines of law, cultural studies, public policy, and art—the contributors consider issues at the center of arts policy. They propose various legal strategies, curatorial practices, and standards of doing business intended to serve the public interest in the arts. 

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays varied quite a bit in topic and readability. Some were more interesting than others. It would have been interesting to have some concrete ideas of how to go forward and avoid this from happening but I guess that wasn’t the point of the book.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, these collections Can be a mix and some ofthe essays are right on. I was a big fan of the Sensation exhibit, but I waa hit on by one of the contributors and thought I'd give it a go. It's definitely worth a read if you follow the contemporary art world and are interested in the machinations behind the scenes. However, if you want real dirt, you'd be better off reading Mat Gleason.

[gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of essays about the Brooklyn Museum controversy. Good and insightful. Gives some new perspectives to the culture wars.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

giuiliani is a prick