Art Exhibit Controversy Heats Up

A local woman whose parents survived the Holocaust is planning a protest Thursday morning outside the Marblehead Arts Association, urging the nonprofit to take down a portrait of Adolf Hitler.

Susan Fader said the painting "crosses the line into prejudice."  She spent Wednesday morning meeting with town business owners and religious leaders and passing out fliers protesting the painting. 

"The bottom line is that it wasn't necessary to hang this portrait," Fader said. "Why didn't the arts association think, 'This might really hurt some people?' Why didn't they err on the side of sensitivity and better judgement?"

MAA Director Deborah Greel said the portrait will not come down. She added that it's part of an exhibit on human character, both good and bad, and needs to be seen in context. And she said heated discussion over art can be a good thing. Greel expected a heavier turnout today with people curious about the exhibit.

"We're excited to have a venue where art is present and vibrant. We're intrigued that we can create a compelling dialogue," Greel said.

Artist Gage Delprete said he doesn't want to hurt anyone, but he stands by his work.

"I was aware that this would be an emotional piece. I was aware that many people would not want to engage with this portrait," Delprete said, while adding he's glad that it is provoking people to think and debate.

Delprete said the exhibit of 10 paintings represents his personal journey learning about good and evil. He spent years in foster care without strong parental figures or role models.

"I had a tendency to look to fiction and history for guidance as far as right and wrong ... a spectrum of who to be as a person, and not to be," he said.

His portraits reflect his search, he said. The subjects in the exhibit include Gandhi, Superman, Jesus, Yoda, characters from Lord of the Rings, and representing evil and tyranny, Adolf Hitler.

Still, Fader said seeing an image of Hitler hanging in her town is too painful to take. Making it worse, she said, the portrait is based on the cover of Mein Kampf, Hitler's early autobiography where he warned of a "Jewish peril."

Fader's cousin was killed in the Holocaust. Her parents survived. Fader is also an artist and owns Ditto Editions, a fine art reproduction company. Her protest is planned for Thursday at 11 a.m.

The Marblehead Arts Association is a nonprofit group founded in 1922. It exhibits 1500 pieces of art a year and has more than 600 members.

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