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CREATURE NITES OF OHIO
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" A controversial exhibit using body parts from dead cats and baby dolls opens today at the Canton Art Institute. The local exhibit may allow local art lovers to join the national debate over controversial art supported by tax money, an issue debated Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives. The House refused to ban federal funds for artwork deemed obscene or indecent. Opponents argued that the issue was not censorship but how to spend public money. The national debate concerns an exhibit of 153 photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe - 13 of which include images of sadomasochistic homosexual sex. The local debate concerns an exhibit of imaginary animal sculptures fashioned by Akron artist Stephen Paternite from freeze-dried animal parts and baby dolls. He said he was furious that museum officials would suggest censoring his work by requesting that he pull three of his most controversial displays.... " Cristal Williams Walker, staff writer The Akron Beacon Journal Friday, September 15, 1989 (Full Article) " This show is, in case you've been hibernating the last 24 hours, the talk not only of the area and the state, but the whole country, having been picked up by Cable News Network and most of the wire services by late Friday. Stephen Paternite's exhibit, "Creature-Nites of Ohio" at the Canton Art Institute through October 29th, features both sculptured and real animal parts recombined to form new fantasy creatures, three of which involve the use of baby doll parts. The works causing the most controversy, Kiddie-Kat and Kiddie-Kat II ( homo sapien felis catus ), have been compared with some of the more shocking photographs by the late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe...." Dorothy Shinn, art critic The Akron Beacon Journal Saturday, September 16, 1989 (Full Article) " My hat is off to Akron sculptor Stephen Paternite. He has given me a new appreciation of art. Finally, someone has discovered a good use for cats." Stuart Warner, Warner's corner The Akron Beacon Journal Sunday, September 17, 1989 (Full Article) " As secretary-treasurer of the Traditional Siamese Breeders and Fanciers Association, Diane Fineran of Jonesborough, Tenn., is a fervent defender of the feline faith. And as an art critic, she's no pussycat, either. In a letter addressed to yours truly, she used terms such as "demented, indecent" and "atrocities" to describe the Creature-Nites of Ohio show at the Canton Art Museum. She suggested that the artist, Stephen Paternite, should be confined to "the nearest mental institution"..." Stuart Warner, Stark Naked The Beacon Journal (Stark edition) Sunday, October 8, 1989 (Full Article) |
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