Dec. 1-4 at the Miami Beach Convention Center: Artist's Work Depicts Criticism of Televangelist Pat Robertson

At Art Basel Miami Beach, New York Arts Magazine will project a video that includes an artist's photographs and text rejecting the Nov. 11, 2005 message of Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson.

NEW YORK, New York (PRWEB) November 21, 2005 -- At Art Basel Miami Beach, December 1-4, 2005, New York Arts Magazine will project a video that includes artist Stephen Spiller's photographs and text rejecting the Nov. 11, 2005 message of conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition.

Robertson made apocalyptic warnings of God's wrath to citizens of Dover, Pa. who voted school board members supporting "intelligent design" out of office. On Nov. 11, 2005, Robertson said on his television show, The 700 Club, "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city."

I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city.

The particular photograph critical of Robertson's warnings depicts a man staring at young lovers, called transgressors in the artwork, passionately embracing as he walks by. The man is wearing a shirt quoting the King James Bible, Chapter 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life."

The artwork's text calls the man a Crusader, mocking him by saying, "Despite his steadfast beliefs, oh how he yearns for solid proof that degradation and retribution swing in perfect harmony. Just a glimpse of crispy Sodom would be very reassuring. Or a whiff of Gomorrah's vapors even better. It's humiliating how these two transgressors are completely oblivious to his certainty that life's dance-steps down the high road are so well defined, clear as chalk marks on cement."

"I think provocative statements like those Robertson makes are no less than a form of terrorism practiced by the leaders of many religious conservative groups to exert control over their memberships and to try and persuade others to accept their views by using irrational, highly charged, emotional statements," said Stephen Spiller, the artist.

Spiller says he uses spontaneously-made "street" photographs and composes text as political and social commentary about contemporary subjects.

Other subjects treated by the artist's images on the video include sexual "cruising", divorce and depression. The video will run in the Miami Beach Convention Center at Booth M 17, Dec. 1-4 and preview late November at www.nyartsmagazine.com.

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art artist religion pat robertson stephen spiller art basel miami beach

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