Cruelty in the Name of Art?

A couple of days ago, a friend of ours sent us this letter that she wanted us to see about a Costa Rican "artist" named Guillermo Vargas, who starved a dog as part of an art exhibit at a major art gallery in his country . The letter is below and I have provided a link to the gallery that hosted the exhibit (It is in Spanish though, but there are pictures, you will more than get the idea). If you wish, you can sign it yourselves and e-mail it to them. The show was in August, and unfortunately this letter is only just making the rounds. It's too late for the dog, it died. But it might not be too late to give the gallery grief, and maybe bring the pretending "artist" to justice. If the gallery directors had any decency or honor they would resign.

To http://us.f841.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info%40madc.ac.crI am writing regarding the horrifying actions of Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, who paid local children to catch a dog on the street and then confined, starved and publicly displayed the dog as an "art" exhibit until the innocent animal died of starvation.I, along with many people world wide, am outraged that Guillermo habacuc Vargas has been selected to represent Costa Rica in "Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008", This man is by no definition of the word an artist he is a criminally insane sadist and enjoys inflicting prolonged suffering upon his innocent victims. He is a danger to all of society as it is well documented that those with the capacity to intentionally cause harm to an animal have the same capacity to harm humans.To state that this animal would have died eventually of natural causes is unjustifiable and beyond logical, rational thinking.To allow Guillermo habacuc Vargas to represent Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 will in no way benefit Costa Rica, the world is watching and the actions of this so called artist has brought much negative assumptions as to the humanity of the people of Costa Rica and the fact that the many witnesses of this animal's suffering did nothing and that the organizers of this event allowed this rather than taking action to see that Guillermo Vargas be criminally charged with animal abuse is sending the world a message that Costa Rica consists of a cruel, uncivilized society that has no regard for life but enjoys viewing and contributing to the loss of life.Each and every person who knew of and witnessed the suffering of this innocent dog is equally as guilty of causing it's uncalled for death.And to let this crime go unpunished and instead be awarded by Guillermo Vargas representing Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 is unacceptable and shameful not only to Costa Rica but to all participants of this event.I urge you, do not condone the heinous actions of Guillermo Vargas by allowing him to participation in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008. He should be jailed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of law for this animal's death, not representing Costa Rica as an artist for he is not an artist and to refer to him as such is an insult to all true artists.Sincerely,Your Name


In Spanish:
http://www.marcaame.com/blogs/analog/index.php2007/08/22/5%20_piezas_de_habacuc