Im all for activism...but some people really need to make a better effort...Mike Brenner made a "demonstration" the other day where he attempted to shave his head in support for detained Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei. He was turned away by guards and police called by the MAM, and denied from performing his "support" in front of the museum, which happens to be opening an exhibit displaying current and past chinese art.
Being denied his place in front of the MAM, he instead shaved his head in front of a dozen or so people up by the closed parking garage on wisconsin/prospect. I'm really going to try not to criticize anyone's attempt to support such a just cause too much, but I really have to wonder if this is really even a worthy effort, especially from someone well-known enough in the Milwaukee area. I guess it just leaves me saying "so what?" The summary of his statement was, "I think just giving people an opportunity to discuss what's happening is important." OK...well stop shaving your head for a photo op and organize something. Give people an opportunity to discuss it.You run a gallery, put on a show and send the money to some fund for Wei Wei. Hold a debate or lecture night. Even hang that big tapestry with Wei Wei's face somewhere public...that would be better than a dude standing by the MAM shaving his head.
And maybe it has something to do with the giant stink he made about the bronze fonz getting made...I mean for that he threatened to close the gallery and quit his executive director job at the Milwaukee Artists Resource Network...and all Wei Wei gets is a shaved head and the statement "I think just giving people an opportunity to discuss what's happening is important." Well that is important, but this "support" did nothing to make me think about that, the oppression of Wei Wei, or give me any idea how I can contribute.
Kudos for doing something, but I could go streaking for Wei Wei this afternoon and accomplish about as much. Actually with his face painted on my body...that's not too bad of an idea.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/122949183.html
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