Gov't Spooks Haunt Columbia College Art Exhibition

By Sam Bakken in News on Apr 12, 2005 6:34PM

Last Thursday, two Secret Service agents visited Columbia College's Glass Curtain Gallery to take pictures of a number of pieces from the "Axis of Evil, the Secret History of Sin" exhibition that opened that Wednesday. They say they were investigating complaints from the public about some of the images displayed in pre-show publicity.

The show is described in a press release as, "An international exhibition thematically peeking into the depths of evil through the print making form of the postage stamp sheet." The exhibition is an extension of the book "Axis of Evil: Perforated Praeter Naturam."

The Sun-Times reports that the agents asked the museum director CarolAnn Brown to provide them with the names and phone numbers of the artists involved, and that they wanted the curator to contact them within 24 hours—talk about a chilling effect.

Brown told the Sun-Times that, "They just want to make sure it isn't something more than a statement." The show started in Philadelphia and Columbia College spokeswoman Micki Leventhal told the Sun-Times that there were no complaints from that showing. Lighten up Chi-town. It's art!

But whatever, the whole thing is great publicity for the show and only adds to its subversive air. The gallery is located at 1104 S. Wabash, 1st floor. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibition runs through May 11 and is free to the public.

Image via Columbia College's Glass Curtain Gallery and composed of works created by various artists.