NPG’s David Ward Advises Smithsonian’s Wayne Clough: "Listen to the Museum Directors"

Nevertheless, will Smithsonian curators now feel more risk-averse, in light of the negative backlash created by "Hide/Seek," which came from both conservatives who decried the show's contents, and members of the gay community and the artworld who deplored the removal of David Wojnarovicz's video?

As it happened, on the same day (almost two weeks before the committee issued its report) when I interviewed Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough in his office and recorded a CultureGrrl Video with National Portrait Gallery historian David Ward at the scene of the controversial exhibition, I also recorded a brief audio-only interview with Ward on the "chilling effect" question---whether he will feel free to tackle controversial subjects in future NPG exhibitions, given his difficult experience with "Hide/Seek."

"I intend to do nothing but the most boring exhibitions that I possibly can do," Ward quipped, before getting serious about what he sees as needed changes, going forward, in the relationship between the museums and "the Castle" (where the Smithsonian's administration is housed). Click the arrow on the left of the audio bar, below, to hear our three-minute exchange (and please pardon CultureGrrl's raspy voice, caused by too much talking and a very bad cold):