EXCERPTS
The Jewish News
December 5, 2024, 9:59 am
Last week, a group estimated at between 100 to 150 people — Jews and non-Jews, including some local politicians — gathered in Millburn, outside the Green Door Studio, to protest the art that the gallery’s owner, Emily Konopinski, had on exhibit.
The artist, Kyle Goen, produces work that “intentionally blurs the lines between art and activism,” and his art “hangs in the service of struggle,” according to his website. The “Free Palestine movement” is one of his causes, and it is the pieces advancing that movement — with such messages as Globalize the Intifada, and with such images as Leila Khaled, the iconic terrorist hijacker — that hung in Millburn and appalled the demonstrators, who see them as a call to violence against Jews. ...
She (Emily Konopinski, the Green Door Studio owner) went on, unedited:
“On the question of messaging and Mr. Goen’s collection, The Palestine Suite, which he defines as a ‘movement generated poster archive,’ his message is clear, and I’d warn against reducing it to the message of one poster isolated from the rest. It is a timeline of resistance to oppression, it illustrates the desire for self determination and freedom, and the examines realities when these things are denied to some.
“From a curatorial aspect, it aligned with this year’s poster theme, Posters, Propaganda and the Revolution and it is incredibly timely given the crisis we witness daily on our phones, and the timing of the US election and all of it’s complexities.
“On the question of community, division, cause etc, much of the criticism (towards me, the posters, and so forth) was posted on social media groups of which I am not a member, and could not participate.
“Facts are important, and many falsehoods are being widely spread.
“It is a case of telephone game, and unfortunately all of the participants are adults, many of them setting examples for our youth. This sort of echo chamber is very dangerous in my opinion and lends itself to creating active threats to the community. Three adult protesters were identified on camera vandalizing the building during the second protest, and there is an open criminal investigation at the Millburn police department. This is truly unfortunate and unnecessary, sending what I believe is the opposite message of the majority of the protesters.
“I strongly believe that where people want to learn, grow and achieve peace together, it will happen. I do not believe this happens when people attempt to censor art, ban books or avoid things that trigger our deepest emotions, and speak to our fears. As an art gallery owner I am designing an experience in order to make us think, make us move, make us pause, or maybe make us change. Once the exhibit is up, I leave it to the audience.”
Read entire article here:
https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/taking-a-stand-in-millburn/