Allegedly, the Lower East Side bookstore Bluestockings, tossed out 1,500 copies of the monthly local rock list, Showpaper [Note: the above image is the image from the front of the current Showpaper]. Not sure what the deal is, but our buddy Jesse Hlebo curated the series in question as part of an exhibition at the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts called Short-Term Deviation:
“Someone at Bluestocking’s was offended by the Showpaper cover image that Borden Capalino did, apparently they thought it was exploitive rather than critical. Even still it’s quite reactionary to throw out more than 1,500 copies of Showpaper just because you don’t like what’s on the cover. I wouldn’t be surprised if they carried something like the Village Voice that has those kind of images displayed every week in a manner that subsidizes, rather than critiques.”
[The matter is beginning to get attention over at Brooklyn Vegan.]
4 comments
For the record, Bluestocking did not throw out any copies of showpaper. I am not sure how this rumor got started. I am a Bluestockings volunteer and was at the store on Mon when the new copies of showpaper were dropped off outside for distribution. Bluestockings completely supports Showpaper, and we are in no way offended by Borden Capalino’s cover. They have always curated amazing and inspiring art for their covers and the current cover is another example of showpaper’s great eye for talented artists. Paper mag has published an statement from us, in an attempt to clear up these rumors: http://www.papermag.com/2010/10/showpaper_sex_ads_bluestockings.php
if the artist is making some sort of critique what is it?
is it “these sex ads exist! this isn’t a sex ad, however! i’m CRITIQUING sex ads omg!”
WEAK
or wait…is it…racism exists in other NYC weeklies! commodification of bodies too! omg this is a critique of that!
There are lots of things I hate in the world, and two of them are art and sexual exploitation. It really pisses me off when one is used to justify the other. Fuck art. Fuck showpaper and it’s stupid shows that give hipsters a reason for living and improving their miserable existence. Fuck critique. And yeah fuck art again.