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RE: Aurora Cultural Centre permanently closes exhibit amid antisemitism concerns, Oct. 7, 2024.
I am writing as an Israeli-born Canadian, an artist/filmmaker, and professor at OCAD University in response to the cancellation of the recent exhibit Expressions of Critical Thought at the Aurora Cultural Centre.
Having read the article in NewmarketToday, I have to ask Aurora Cultural Centre executive director Susanne Haines what she means when she says, "We deeply value and promote artistic freedom" and "inclusivity is at the heart of our mission." Such double speak between language and action is most disturbing.
To truly foster "an environment where art not only inspires dialogue but also unites and heals" requires a much different approach than the censorious one you have taken. Instead, dialogue groups, conversations, having different representation on panels and in art, or different viewings would be some of the possible approaches to promote your purposes. Or you could let artists express what they need to represent, state or challenge.
You would be well advised to look at the judgment of the judge who ruled on the encampment at UT. His careful 90+ page verdict indicated that none of the statements you would have seen in any of the graffiti-like scrawlings on the artwork in your galleries constituted antisemitism. Not everyone who charges work or others with 'antisemitism' because of their discomfort with the message or the image of a flag is correct in their determination. The representations reported and imaged in the article do not constitute hate speech.
Do not fear being accused of antisemitism. A Palestinian artist who includes the image of the Palestinian flag in their collage is not displaying anti-Jewish racism. That is a false equation and your administration would do well to re-examine the work with clear criteria, to submit to the legal judgment, and to support free speech and free artistic expression.
What is most egregious is that, in cancelling this art show, you are putting one more nail in the coffin of free speech and democratic rights in this province and in our country.
Also egregious is that reporter Bailey Moreton represented a one-sided perspective.
You do not have to agree with every artist, and every artist does not have the responsibility to make nice work that does not offend anyone.
Will we only laud those who speak for others once they are dead? Has history not taught us anything about the representation of conflict and what the powers that be uphold? Why is Viola Desmond on our $10 bill? Why did Canada hold a Truth and Reconciliation Commission? How is it that the international court of justice, the UN, Amnesty International, and even Israel's own B'tselem human right organization all declare Israel's actions illegal? In the future, when people look at the list of egregious censorship acts of this time, your gallery and names will be on that list.
It is most shameful, what Israel is doing in my name, claiming my Jewish identity toward their sovereign war. And it is as shameful here that my or other artists' rights to express ourselves is being trampled, silenced, erased. Would this stand in a court of law? I don't think so.
Please allow the show to run its due course. That is the only response of integrity that upholds our democracy.
b.h. Yael
Professor, Faculty of Art, OCAD University
