Afterall Journal Issue 26 Foreword Addresses Censorship and Pedagogical Art Practices

Stephanie Smith, writing from Chicago in December 2010, introduces Afterall Journal Issue 26, reflecting on the censorship of David Wojnarowicz's video A Fire in My Belly (1986-87) at the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition 'Hide/Seek'. The removal sparked debates on free speech, queer identity, and institutional roles, prompting screenings nationwide. Smith notes the journal's essays, including Carmen Mörsch's critique of museum education and Roger M. Buergel's analysis of Lina Bo Bardi's democratic design, explore repressive and emancipatory pedagogical practices. Featured artists Group Material, Catherine Sullivan, and Isidoro Valcárcel Medina engage with activism, labor, and politics. Smith, a contributing editor since Spring 2010, highlights Afterall's partnership with the University of Chicago and the Open Practice Committee, aiming to foster critical debate. She draws parallels to 1980s oppositional art, citing William Olander's texts on crisis-driven art, and emphasizes the journal's role in providing nuanced perspectives on art's social contexts.