Antonovich’s View on the NEA Controversy

The Times’ coverage of the controversy surrounding the National Endowment for the Arts fails to address the real issue of what is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. Both the furor over the Artists Space exhibit in New York and the concern raised by the taxpayer support of the Andres Serrano and Robert Mapplethorpe exhibitions clearly illustrate the importance of placing guidelines on how our tax dollars are spent, as Sen. Jesse Helms has advocated.

Since The Times has failed to print the photos that served as a catalyst to the Helms amendment to limit NEA funding, it may surprise your readers to learn that in addition to a picture of a crucifix in urine, taxpayer money was spent to support showing of a photograph of what appears to be a strangled animal in agony. Also, taxpayers paid for an explicit photo of a 6-year-old girl, a perverse depiction of urination involving two men, and a close-up of a man performing a grotesquely masochistic act.

As Congressman Dana Rohrabacher so aptly explained, the issue is not censorship, it’s sponsorship. While it is true that artistic expression must be encouraged and preserved, public financing of the above is an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds.

MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH

Supervisor, Fifth District

County of Los Angeles