Breaking News!! The New York Times and Hyperallergic are reporting that over half of the 75 artists presenting in the Whitney Biennial have signed a letter asking for the removal of board vice chairman Warren Kanders. The artists are adding their names to the letter (that Marabou wrote about on April 9th) signed by 120 Scholars, Theorists, and Critics published earlier in April.

The New York Times writes,

“On Monday, artists, including Dread Scott, Barbara Kruger, Cameron Rowland, Nan Goldin, Yvonne Rainer, Hans Haacke, Andrea Fraser and Laura Poitras, whose work is owned or has been exhibited by the Whitney, added their names to a letter published this month by scholars and critics who urged the museum to remove Mr. Kanders from his position as a vice chairman of the board.

Forty-six of the 75 artists and collectives chosen for the Biennial, which opens May 17, also signed the letter, which said tear gas from Mr. Kanders’ company had been used against Palestinians in the Middle East and protesters in Egypt, Puerto Rico and Standing Rock, N.D., and called for a conversation about private funding of cultural institutions.”

The Whitney Biennial opens May 17th. Marabou wonders how the Whitney will respond to the escalating pressure that started with a staff letter and has grown to include external pressure from numerous activist and community groups, artists, scholars, and other members of the cultural sector?