A family “adorned with Bush-Cheney buttons and stickers” summoned police to the Museum of Modern ARF in Clarendon over the weekend, protesting the offensiveness of a controversial nude painting of President Bush on display there. According to a statement sent to DCist, the museum said that the family found the exhibition to be “demonic, sadistic, obscene and highly unpatriotic.”
Police sent to investigate the artwork found that everything was in order and that director John Aaron was well within his rights to display the controversial artwork, which is part of “Breaking the Silence II: Questioning Power Now More Than Ever,” on display through Nov. 14. Police asked Aaron whether there was a warning on the door, and when he pointed out that there was a warning to families and those who are religiously devout, police left.
Kayti Didriksen’s “Man of Leisure: King George,” pictured above, was removed from the City Museum after it was deemed offensive and was promptly put on display at the Museum of Modern ARF.