GOOD: excellent, satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree, of high quality; right; proper; fit; kind, beneficent, or friendly: honorable or worthy; educated and refined; safe; genuine; not counterfeit; valid; reliable; dependable; responsible; healthful; beneficial; in excellent condition; healthy: favorable; propitious; cheerful; optimistic; amiable; comfortable; agreeable; pleasant; attractive; handsome; close or intimate; warm; advantageous; skillful; clever; skillfully or expertly done; socially proper; comparatively new; best or most dressy; full; fairly large or great; fertile; rich; loyal.

February 22, 2011

Recent Press

We're very fortunate the story took on so quickly, and a little caught off guard. Please check out the following links about the recent events at the store. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me by email. Please be patient but I will reply!

-AnnaLisa
vashongoodmerchandise (at) gmail dot com

Story by Liz Shepherd, Vashon Beachcomber

Interesting discussion!

We were on KOMO for several segments running.

February 16, 2011

Censorship and the opportunity it brings

Across the street at the Two Wall Gallery, Greg Davila and Monica Gripman's amazing love-theme art was shown with several other artists for the month of February. When the owners (specifically Louise Rice and her daughter Wendy) of the building showed up, they went flippin' nuts.

They personally took down the images and delivered them to the Heron's Nest in the same building. They (Louise and/or Wendy) were noted as saying the images were of "HOMOSEXUAL CONTENT AND OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE." The artists and curators were notified. I was also in the loop and decided to document the images that were removed, the images that were left, and how I feel about it.

One of Two Walls, now bare of Greg Davila's work.

In the back, there was a bunch of trash, ladders and crap. I found this more offensive than the art.

Davila's wall again.

This empty case is in the gallery too. It was also offensive because it was barren.

A few additional images of art that was not removed (I've updated the pictures to be horizontally or vertically correct, just for you Mr. Petersen). I've included my own, over-the-top interpretation of how offensive the remaining show could be, leaving me feeling puzzled about the reason Gripman and Davila's work was removed:
St. Sebastian probably wasn't a white man. Offensive. (I previously assumed in the heat of the moment it was Jesus Christ and was corrected).

Full artistic frontal, nipple, etc. Offensive.

Full artistic backside. Offensive.

Nipple. Offensive.

These girls do NOT look of age. Offensive.

Sci-fi nipple. Offensive.

Sci-fi cleavage. Provocative.

(Recent addition:) There's a naked body on her head! Offensive.

Here's a few of the art that was removed. We shot the images at Good Merchandise where they can now be viewed from the outside and to the public.

This one is by Monica Gripman. It has the eff word in it. Offensive.

Two men, and I can't tell if they're naked, can you? Offensive.

Totally non-hetero, PG13 image. I was more bothered by an episode of Parenthood last night than this image.

See two lovers embracing on the left? Offensive.

Woman in mirror, with breasts covered, with topless individual. Offensive.

All of the images from Monica and Greg can be viewed at Good Merchandise.

We 100% believe in our rights as citizens of the United States, which includes
FREEDOM of SPEECH!

Very Progressively,
AnnaLisa