The art of being a provocateur

Rob Nelson previews "Cecelia Condit: Dark Songs," a Madison Art Center exhibition of the Milwaukee-based photographer/ videographer's provocative work, which often confronts violence, cruelty and transgression and has made her a target for conservative critics. "Possibly in Michigan," a 12-minute video about two women who turn the tables on their male stalker, was broadcast on "The 700 Club" as an example of misguided funding by the National Endowment for the Arts. "My husband was sitting there with my baby," Condit says, "watching Pat Robertson say that I was gay and antifamily and hated men." Condit is now director of graduate film studies at UW-Milwaukee, and her work is included in such prestigious collections as New York's Museum of Modern Art. For examples see www.ceceliacondit.com.