Smithsonian chief defends decision to remove video

[January 19, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough is defending his decision to remove an artist's video from the National Portrait Gallery that depicted ants crawling on a crucifix.

Clough drew criticism from the art world for bowing to complaints from members of Congress and a Catholic group that had called the clip sacrilegious.

In November, the Catholic League complained the video titled "A Fire in My Belly," by the late artist David Wojnarowicz, was sacrilegious. The Smithsonian removed the video the same day.

In an interview Tuesday, Clough said the video controversy was overshadowing the first major exhibit about gay themes in art history. He said he acted to preserve the overall exhibit, "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture."

[Associated Press; By BRETT ZONGKER]

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