Blood Paintings Challenged by Friends of Animals, Fox News Reports
For Immediate Release: 22 June 2007
22 June 2007, Hartford, Conn. — Friends of Animals held a lively protest on Thursday 21 June, outside Real Art Ways, for the opening of “Animal-Spirit-Machine” by artist Jordan Eagles, whose medium of choice is mammal blood, obtained from slaughterhouses.
“I don’t think he would use the blood of a human murder victim,” said Nancy Rice, Outreach Coordinator for Friends of Animals, interviewed for WTIC TV by Fox’s Tom Benemann. “That would offend a lot of people, and quite frankly, this offends us.”
FoA activists passed out leaflets questioning the exhibit, stirring vigorous discussions. One visitor declined to enter the gallery after listening to FoA’s viewpoint. The protest also attracted coverage from the Hartford Courant.
On the Real Art Ways website, Eagles describes slaughtered animals’ blood as “the fluid of life.” Absent is any discussion of how the fluid was derived from an act that took that very life away, or any challenge to the business of processing living flesh into items that entertain people — whether on dinner tables or the walls of galleries.
Friends of Animals wrote to Jordan Eagles to open such a discussion. Eagles promptly responded, rejecting the idea that the work is at all disrespectful. And this is not shocking. For Jordan Eagles, like most people, consumes other animals.
Everyone at Friends of Animals once did the same. We have grown and changed, and experienced rebirth of our own bodies and spirits. We challenge Jordan Eagles and those who appreciate art to also appreciate life in a new way: consider a palette of peace.
The “Animal-Spirit-Machine” will appear at Real Art Ways Gallery, 56 Arbor St., Hartford, Connecticut for the next three weeks (Thu. 21 June — Sun. 15 July).
The contact information for Jordan Eagles is public: jordan@jordaneagles.com or 917.656.2535.
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9 Comments
On June 25, 2007, Suzanne Donzero wrote:
Views on whether or not the art done in animal blood is disrespectful: I would question the use of any bodily fluid being used in such a manner, on health/safety issues alone.
On June 29, 2007, Diane Hasty wrote:
It would not be right if you use animal blood,because it would be cruel to the animals.
On June 29, 2007, Peter Hood wrote:
A discussion of the “merit” or appropriateness of using the medium this (so called) “artist” has chosen shouldn’t even be necessary. No position Mr. Eagles could offer would be remotely persuasive. I would urge anyone who accesses this page, to send an Email to Mr. Eagles, letting him know that you pledge not to attend his show, and that you will do all you can to encourage others to do the same.
On July 10, 2007, BILLY BOB MCCALLISTER wrote:
What are you folks complaining about. This is blood from dead animals who no longer need it anyway.
On July 11, 2007, Jessica Friede wrote:
Wow, “Billy Bob” …
what an ignorant thing for you to say!
On July 13, 2007, Stacy Goldberger wrote:
Mr. McAllister,
Eagles would not have been able to use the blood if the animals were not being slaughtered in the first place. As a result, he is profiting from the murder of farm animal that should have not have been deprived of their lives or their blood.
What Eagles describes as the “fluid of life,” should really be described as the “evidence of murder.” Furthermore, I think many meat eaters would be disturbed by his choice of medium as well.
On July 27, 2007, Jesi S. wrote:
First off, I never understand why people have a problem with eating meat. Tigers kill prey. Birds kill prey. Bears kill Prey. Our Bald Eagle kills prey. Come on, its called the foodchain. It keeps things balanced. If everyone, including other mammals, remember we ARE ANIMALS, went vegy well we’d have the worst case scenario. We’d all STARVE to death.
FoA comments:
Yes, clearly you do not understand why people have a problem with eating meat or simply lack an understanding of the unnecessary suffering and death of animals cause by the human consumption of animals.
And perhaps you also don’t understand that the production of meat adds to global warming, air and water polluttion, and the human healthcare crisis.
On August 4, 2007, Baaboo wrote:
This guy is an absolute nut and anybody that agrees with him is a nut too.
On January 19, 2008, lina wrote:
I agree with FoA animals eat other animals,humans should eat fruits ,vegetables and other sources of protein .It makes me sick that humans slaughter cows ,pigs, and surprisingly horses in some parts of texas and every where in Europe.p.s. jordan eagles’s blood paintings are just pointless and savage.