Press release

David Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in My Belly on view
at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston through Jan. 2, 2011

Boston, Dec 20, 2010.—David Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in My Belly is now on view in the 4th floor galleries at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. The video will be screened through Jan. 2, 2011.

David Wojnarowicz is a widely respected artist who was prominent in the New York City art scene during the 1980s. He died of AIDS-related complications on July 22, 1992 at the age of 37. A Fire In My Belly was Wojnarowicz’s response to the AIDS-related death of his close friend and colleague Peter Hujar. The film is an artistic meditation on life, death, faith and suffering.

On Nov. 30, 2010, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery removed David Wojnarowicz’s video A Fire In My Belly from the exhibition “Hide/Seek: Difference And Desire in American Portraiture” in response to pressure from prominent religious and political figures, who threatened the institution’s funding sources.

The ICA has joined a number of cultural institutions across the country to screen Wojnarowicz’s A Fire In My Belly in order to speak out against censorship. “In the 1980s, artists including David Wojnarowicz were critical in creating awareness about the tragic loss of life caused by the AIDS epidemic. A Fire in My Belly includes many disturbing images about death, sexuality and religion and as ever, we alert all our visitors so that they can decide for themselves whether to see this film. None of the images, however, come close to the real pain and suffering caused by AIDS and the silence of complicity that characterized the 80s,” says Jill Medvedow, director of the ICA. “We have seen that art often anticipates cultural and political shifts in our society. In protecting artistic freedom of expression, we ensure that voices and ideas vital to a healthy democracy do not remain silent or overlooked. It is our role as a museum to share these ideas and present artwork that expresses many different points of view.”

About the ICA
An influential forum for multi-disciplinary arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art has been at the leading edge of art in Boston for more than 70 years. Like its iconic building on Boston's waterfront, the ICA offers new ways of engaging with the world around us. Its exhibitions and programs provide access to contemporary art, artists, and the creative process, inviting audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the excitement of new art and ideas. The ICA, located at 100 Northern Avenue, is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 am - 5 pm; Thursday and Friday, 10 am - 9 pm; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm. Admission is $15 adults, $13 seniors and $10 students, and free for members and children 17 and under. ICA Free Admission for Youth is sponsored by State Street Corporation. Free admission on Target Free Thursday Nights, 5 - 9 pm. Free admission for families at ICA Play Dates (2 adults + children 12 and under) on the last Saturday of the month. For more information, call 617-478-3100 or visit our Web site at www.icaboston.org.

###