Join us for a special conversation between artist Nari Ward and Massimiliano Gioni, Edlis Neeson Artistic Director of the New Museum, on the occasion of Ward’s New Museum exhibition, “We the People.” Ward is one of the most influential sculptors working today. He transforms found material to speak to both personal memory and the complex political and social… 
 
 Event Nari Ward in Conversation with Massimiliano… Thursday 03/14/19 7PM ||||| New York (CNN) -- A video that features ants crawling over a crucifix has gone on display at a New York gallery -- after it was banned from a Smithsonian museum -- raising questions over the boundaries of freedom of expression in a city known for its art. 
 
 The exhibit, entitled "A Fire in My Belly, A Work in Progress," was produced by David Wojnarowicz, who died in 1992 after suffering from AIDS. 
 
 It began screening Saturday at the New Museum, which is devoted exclusively to contemporary art, according to the museum website. 
 
 The complete video is over 30 minutes long and includes graphic sexual content -- including masturbation and full frontal nudity -- and has renewed opposition from religious groups offended by the depiction of Jesus covered by insects. 
 
 "I think that in the artistic community, directors, curators are tremendously insensitive to Christians, they respond by claiming victim status and I find it appalling," said Catholic League President Bill Donohue. "You can't make fun of the Holocaust, you can't make fun of black slavery..... and you can't even depict anything about Mohammed." 
 
 The video was recently removed from a Smithsonian exhibit after Donohue led protests against it and petitioned Congress to cut the institution's funding after it presented the video. 
 
 "The New Museum has always defended freedom of expression and continues to oppose censorship," said museum director 
 
 Lisa Phillips in a written statement. "We cannot afford to take hard won civil liberties for granted and need to remain vigilant and protect artistic freedom." 
 
 The move prompted dozens of art galleries to request the rights to show the video, said Wendy Olsoff, co-owner of the P.P.O.W. Gallery, which holds the rights to the video. 
 
 "I think it was a bad decision, poor judgment," she said. "Someone who didn't see it, called it in, put pressure and they pulled it. If you pull one piece how do you know another wouldn't be pulled. That's censorship." 
 
 The video is currently displayed in the museum's lobby and can be viewed free of charge.
– A battle over an ant-covered crucifix has moved to New York City. The Smithsonian bowed to pressure by top Republicans John Boehner and Eric Cantor, and dumped an art exhibit video showing ants crawling over a crucifix. The "Fire in My Belly" exhibit, by artist David Wojnarowicz, who died of AIDS, is now on display at the New Museum. "I think that in the artistic community, directors, curators are tremendously insensitive to Christians," complained Catholic League President Bill Donohue. "You can't make fun of the Holocaust, you can't make fun of black slavery, and you can't even depict anything about Mohammed." The "New Museum has always defended freedom of expression and continues to oppose censorship," responded director Lisa Phillips. "We cannot afford to take hard won civil liberties for granted and need to remain vigilant and protect artistic freedom." Dozens of galleries and museums offered to display the video, which also includes nudity and masturbation, after it was axed by the Smithsonian, reports CNN.