Monetarism In Action
- Artist/Author/Producer: Marshall Weber
- Confronting Bodies: Leonard Filgate
- Dates of action: November 1987
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Description of the Art Work
- "Monetarism in Action," consisting of a large swastika covered with dollar
bills,is a component of "The Root, Part One: Bitburg" which is the first
installment of a thirteen part artwork concerned with negative historical
influences on modern aesthetics in the United States.
- Description of incident
- "Chain Reaction" was an exhibit presented at the San Francisco Arts
Commission Gallery in which artists were chosen by the artist chosen
before them. Marshall Weber's swastika, "Monetarism in Action," hung in
the window of the gallery where it was ripped down and damaged by another
artist, Leonard Filgate, participating in the same show. Filgate stated,
"I am all for the First Amendment. However, this insulting and offensive
display, prominently displayed on the window of the gallery, where it
would appear to unknowing passers-by as a statement of what was inside,
was just too much for me to accept." The artwork was nevertheless
reinstalled. San Francisco Arts Commissioner, Clare Issacs, requested
Weber to remove or alter the artwork for the evening of an inaugural
party, but Weber refused. The work was then covered by a banner on the
outside of the window from January 8 until January 20 when young vandals
broke the panes of glass on the piece and removed all of the dollar bills
from the swastika.
- Results of incident
- Monetarism in Action was attacked three times. Each time, Weber pursued
legal prosecution and was denied. The third attack resulted in the
complete distruction of the art work by unknown vandals who stole the
dollar bills attached to the swastika.
Source:Marshall Weber
Record no 16