Isaac Butler's 'The Perfect Moment' chronicles Mapplethorpe controversy and culture wars
Isaac Butler's book, "The Perfect Moment," explores the cultural upheaval surrounding Robert Mapplethorpe's work and the infamous art controversies of the late 20th century. The retrospective initially toured in Philadelphia and Chicago without issues but faced cancellation by the Corcoran Gallery. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) had awarded a $30,000 grant to Mapplethorpe, while the Washington Project for the Arts received praise for showcasing the exhibition. Butler, whose mother served on the WPA board, draws parallels to the 2020 postponement of Philip Guston’s retrospective due to its controversial themes.
Key facts
- The Perfect Moment retrospective toured Philadelphia and Chicago without incident before the Corcoran canceled.
- The NEA grant for Mapplethorpe was $30,000.
- The Washington Project for the Arts exhibited the show to great acclaim.
- Butler's mother was on the WPA board and voted on whether to host the show.
- The 'NEA Four'—Karen Finley, Tim Miller, John Fleck, Holly Hughes—had grants rejected in 1990.
- The US Supreme Court affirmed the NEA's decision-making process.
- Butler was inspired by the 2020 delay of a Philip Guston retrospective over Klan imagery.
- The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati successfully fought obscenity charges in 1990.
Entities
Artists
- Robert Mapplethorpe
- Andres Serrano
- David Wojnarowicz
- Philip Guston
- Karen Finley
- Tim Miller
- John Fleck
- Holly Hughes
- Isaac Butler
Institutions
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- Corcoran Gallery
- Washington Project for the Arts (WPA)
- Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- US Supreme Court
Locations
- Philadelphia
- Chicago
- Washington, DC
- Cincinnati
- Florida
- United States