SAIC grad student student Beth Capper secured the rights to David Wojnarowicz’s “Fire in My Belly” from the artist’s estate, and is organizing screenings around the city in response to one of the most execrable cases of censorship in recent years, in coordination with fellow SAIC grad Ariel Pittman (director of SUGS gallery) and others.

Pittman made the following statement on SUG’s facebook page:
“We will be screening David Wojnarowicz’s piece “Fire in My Belly” outside of LG and Gallery X as early as tomorrow. Thanks to Beth Capper and ExTV for securing the exhibition rights from the artist’s estate. This piece was recently removed from the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian Institute’s exhibition Hide/Seek under pressure from the Catholic League and conservative politicians. As artists, curators and students we are opposed to the silencing of any artwork and believe that this act of censorship sets a frightening precedent for future acts against our freedoms of speech and expression.”

Starting tomorrow (Thursday December 9), “Fire in my Belly” will be shown at SUGs.

Capper also coordinated a screening at the Nightingale Saturday, December 11th, from 1 – 10 pm (free).

Dates and times for other venues will be posted here as they become available.

Also look out for a podcast of an interview with Beth and Ariel by F staffers Brandon Kosters and Jennifer Swann.

–Ania Szremski, Arts Editor