Art Attack on Speakeasy Gallery by Furious Five

On November 13, 1999, at the opening of Dr. Susan Block’s Speakeasy Gallery’s new exhibit "Erotic Art of the Apocalypse," Dr. Block and filmmakers Maximillian Lobkowicz and Lasse Braun, along with Speakeasy Gallery guest Magdelena, did an improvisational performance piece on an interactive sculpture, a giant Bondage Cross created by Speakeasy Gallery artist Mario Saucedo, which so offended five of the other artists exhibiting in the show that they decided to pull their work out of the gallery in protest.

Every Saturday night, on her weekly Internet and cable TV show, Dr. Block and her staff help volunteers from her audience to explore new erotic, breakthrough experiences in a public yet supportive setting. Sometimes these experiences are joyous, sometimes unsettling. The experience of Magdalena, who was handcuffed to the Bondage Cross and lightly whipped (with her consent, of course), was, for her, a mixture of the two. Upon ascending and descending the Cross, Magdalena expressed concern that her neighbor, Steve Monglitio, one of the protesting artists, would disapprove of her performance.

Neither Mr. Monglitio nor the other protesting artists, Margaret Maat (Mr. Monglitio’s girlfriend and a professional stripper), Ashley Laurence (Mr. Monglitio’s ex-girlfriend), Morrie Kramer and Dan Levin (friends of Mr. Monglitio), actually saw the performance piece in question. All have been fully appraised of the good spirits and sound health of the lovely and courageous Magdalena. Dr. Block invited Mr. Monglitio (representing the five artists) to a meeting with all the participants, including Magdalena herself, so that all could be reassured of Magdalena’s well-being. She also invited Mr. Monglitio to view a videotape of the performance, but he refused.

Despite the best efforts of the Speakeasy Gallery staff, the five artists remained monolithically indignant about the performance, as well as generally resentful that their "art has had to piggyback on sex to get attention." Then, suddenly, without warning Speakeasy Gallery art curator Kim Mendoza, or anyone else at the gallery, on Wednesday afternoon, November 24, Mr. Monglitio and his art goons, led by B-12 Gallery owner Averell (acting as a Trojan Horse), forced their way into the Speakeasy Gallery, and removed the artwork of the Furious Five.

"They’re welcome to remove their art in protest," commented Dr. Block. "Protest is good for art. Of course, the surprise invasion of the gallery was a bit much." Five new artists are being added to the roster to replace the art that has been removed. The Speakeasy Gallery is also creating a protest wall to hang the artists’ letters and other artifacts of outrage. Meanwhile, since the event, Mr. Saucedo’s interactive Bondage Cross has become the most popular piece in the "Erotic Art of the Apocalypse" exhibit, and the most important cross in two thousand years.

For further information, to see the art (the work of 25 artists remains) or to wail at the protest wall, please call Pr. Maximillian R. Lobkowicz at 213.749.1330.