Curatorial Explanations

David Ward, the curator of Hide/Seek, responds to the Warhol Foundations threat to pull money in this Washington Blade article by David J. Hoffman.

"Ward also criticized the action announced last week by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, which warned Clough that unless the Wojnarowicz video is returned to the exhibit it will withhold all future funds to any Smithsonian museum. The Warhol Foundation funded $100,000 of the costs to mount the exhibit.... Ward declared that, though “I find their reaction understandable,” it’s more important for such institutions to remain active in support for the arts at the Smithsonian galleries, which in the past has received a total of $375,000 in Warhol funding of various shows including “Hide/Seek.”

This might be restated: "While the ideals of freedom are important to you, your money is important to us."