Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Monday, September 04, 2006

Rabbi Jesus loses spot at hospital

By TERRY RINDFLEISCH / La Crosse Tribune

Clara Maria Goldstein says she created the Rabbi Jesus paintings to promote love, understanding and acceptance.

But Goldstein admitted her 10 oil paintings are causing just the opposite reaction from some people after Gundersen Lutheran officials asked her to remove her paintings hanging in the hospital entryway because they could be controversial.

Goldstein said Kendra Riek, Gundersen Lutheran Gift Shop’s manager, asked her Sunday to take down the paintings as soon as possible. She said she put up the paintings Friday, but was back at Gundersen Lutheran Sunday night taking them down.

“It was insulting at first, but now I’m just sad,” Goldstein said. “The Bible says Jesus was a Jew, but no one wants Jesus painted as a Jew.

“As an artist, I express my beliefs and ideas through my paintings, and I use my art to educate and make people more aware,” she said. “These paintings are about history and truth.”

Goldstein said Riek had not received any complaints. Riek declined to comment Sunday night.

The hospital provides gallery space to Eastbank Artists, who rotate artwork from different artists every two months. Goldstein, president of Eastbank Artists, was taking

her turn to display her artwork. If artwork is sold, Gundersen Lutheran gets a 20 percent commission, Goldstein said.

Goldstein said she is not disputing Gundersen Lutheran’s right to decide what artwork should hang in its space, but she said she is hurt and disappointed by the decision on the grounds her paintings could be controversial. She said she chose to take down the paintings because she didn’t want to ruin opportunities for other Eastbank Artists to display their artwork at the hospital.

Gundersen Lutheran has a policy that it can determine what artwork is appropriate.

“What is appropriate for one person is not appropriate for another,” said Ellen McDonah, a member of the Eastbank Artists. “The artist creates from a viewpoint and expresses beliefs.”

Goldstein said she has received widespread support from other artists.

“I’ve seen her paintings, and I love them because they make you think,” said Donna Cuta, past president of the Eastbank Artists. “She has put a lot of thought and effort into her paintings. Art is not just decorating walls, but raising the bar and getting people to think.

“We are less tolerant and not willing to learn as a society today,” she said. “Why should we be afraid of what somebody thinks of a painting? Are we going to remove all art because someone doesn’t like it?”

Cuta said Gundersen Lutheran officials have deemed some artwork by Eastbank Artists inappropriate in the past.

“Gundersen Lutheran is

trying to be more patient-friendly and it doesn’t want anything controversial to potentially upset patients,” Cuta said.

Goldstein said her paintings also were turned down by Viterbo University for display at a Holocaust symposium this month because they might be controversial. She showed six of her paintings in an exhibition at the Pump House earlier this year.

She said she plans to continue to search for a place to

show her paintings. Goldstein said she wants to create 25 paintings in her Rabbi Jesus series.

“Many people said the paintings were inspiring and eye-opening,” Goldstein said. “What’s sad is people won’t get a chance to decide for themselves what they think because it may be controversial.”

Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.