In Defense of Animals Applauds Cancellation of Animal Snuff Film Exhibit

But Animal Protection Group Denounces Cancellation of Today's Public Forum

San Francisco, Calif.—In Defense of Animals (IDA), the international animal protection organization based in San Rafael, California, today applauded the cancellation by the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) of a video exhibit of animals being killed by a sledge hammer. IDA also denounced the cancellation of today's public forum at SFAI to discuss the creation of animal suffering for "art."

IDA President Elliot M. Katz, DVM stated: "Members of the humane and artistic community were looking forward to the public hearing to express our condemnation of the Art Institute’s giving credibility and acceptability to the work titled, “Don’t Trust Me.” They should never have approved this exhibit in the first place." Dr. Katz characterized the exhibit, depicting the bludgeoning deaths of tethered animals, as a snuff video.

Dr. Katz also stated that "We will not give up until the Art Institute either condemns the exhibit in question, or creates a policy that condemns the creation of animal suffering for videos and/or photographs that pose as works of art."

IDA rejects the notion that the "artist's" right to free expression includes the commission or requisition of cruelty to animals. "There is undercover video footage that shows animals being slaughtered in abattoirs, the Outdoor Channel shows animals being shot; there is no lack of existing video footage that might have been used to make whatever point it was that this 'artist' wanted to make," argues Katz, adding that musings on the nature of art and the place of animals in society could have been provoked in ways other than a series of sensational, violent stunts.

IDA hopes that SFIA will adopt a formal policy against killing of animals specifically for a piece of art. IDA is calling for SFIA to follow the lead of the Chrysler Museum of Art, which will not exhibit or promote the exhibition of art where animals are killed or abused specifically for that piece of art.