“Burn her! Burn her!”

What started out as a joke – a way to get back at the discrimination and conservatism women artists felt they were experiencing in Bakersfield – has now grown so much that the annual Burn The Witch all-female group art show had to find a new venue this year.

But even that came with a price. Nearly two weeks ago, after the women had hung the first submitted art pieces on the wall to get ready for this Saturday’s event, curator Nyoka Jameson was horrified to find some of the artwork missing and vandalized.

Apparently, the two bingo groups that share the space at Westchester Hall didn’t like what they were seeing, Jameson said.

“I knew coming in that we’d be sharing with a bingo group,” she said. “But they weren’t told what kind of art we would bring. This is an uncensored show. There are nudes. There are things that could be controversial.”

After she hung some of the initial art, the Tuesday night bingo group complained, she said. So Jameson took sheets of plastic to the hall at 2801 F St. the next day and covered up the pieces she thought would be most offensive. Apparently that wasn’t enough, she said.

On Saturday, when Jameson returned to the hall, she was horrified when she entered the building.

The plastic had been removed from several pieces. Some of the art was missing from the walls and others were missing from the building entirely. She found some of the art stuffed into the equipment closet, and one large piece in the bathroom.

That one was a painted mannequin hung on a cross called “The Crucifixion of Mother Earth” by Micky Piercy. Parts of the piece were broken and the Styrofoam mannequin had dents and dings.

“I felt shock, followed by disappointment, followed by anger,” she said. “Obviously they didn’t understand the piece. But what’s painful is that they made no attempt to understand it.”

Piercy, who works for Planned Parenthood, painted the life-size mannequin to represent Mother Earth. She enjoys depicting anatomy in her art, and for this particular piece she painted a uterus with the earth inside. A tree of life is on the mannequin’s torso and a sacred heart is on her chest. On her thighs, billowing dark clouds represent smog and acid rain, and on her legs growing vines intertwine with dying vines and thorns.

“This is a parallel to the crucifixion of Christ, who was crucified by his own people,” Piercy said. “This is representative of us humans inhabiting the earth and putting it up for crucifixion.”

Looking at the piece, one would not realize the work that went into repairing it. Piercy had to replace and repair broken cardboard sun rays and re-paint over dings in the Styrofoam.

“Eventually I came to an understanding,” she said. “I don’t want to be too upset because I don’t want to cause more controversy.”

The energy in the room Wednesday during final preparations showed the strength – and stubbornness – of the women who work all year to put on this event.

“Nyoka is our hero. She is the most stubborn person in the world,” said Jennifer Raven, who curated the first three years of Burn The Witch but handed it over to Jameson when her health deteriorated due to lupus and fibromyalgia. Raven is a painter, sculptor, poet and costumer.

Raven described Jameson’s willingness to do whatever necessary to make the show go on. Two months ago, for example, when The Basement art gallery closed its venue on 19^th Street downtown, Jameson had to look for another place to hold the art show. They had outgrown their previous venue of The Empty Space theater on Oak Street and needed a roomier place.

With the help of Don Martin of Metro Galleries, Jameson was able to secure Westchester Hall. She said she’ll be looking for a new venue for next year.

Despite the bingo call numbers on the wall, Westchester Hall is a nice setting for the art show. It’s well-lit and roomy enough for the expected crowd and live performance art. With about 40 exhibitors showing multiple pieces of art, the walls are covered with about 300 works all together, Jameson said. There are paintings, sketches, sculptures, masks, textiles and costumes. Performances will include dance, live music and poetry reading.

“These women inspire me so much,” Raven said. “We all have different reasons for being here. The show has no fees. You just have to be a chick who loves art and can jump in and be willing to help make this happen.”

Jennifer Williams is glad that everything is working out for this year’s show. One of the founding artists, she had her artwork go missing entirely from the hall. After Jameson filed a police report and confronted the building owner, Williams’ pieces reappeared. The Bakersfield Police Department is investigating the case as theft and vandalism, Detective Mary DeGeare confirmed.

“It was kind of alarming,” Williams said. “It’s one thing if it’s trashed. But when it’s missing, you never know what happened. Then they just showed up again.”

She calls her pieces “story boxes.” At a craft store, she found small tombstones and coffins that open with hinges. She painted each and created tiny dioramas inside with characters and short stories. In one that required repair after the artknapping incident, a woman is accompanied by a tiger with a skeleton hand in its mouth.

“This is Gabriella,” Williams says. “She loves cats. When she got married to Mr. Catch, he said she could have any cat she wanted. So she got a tiger. At first it was OK – until the tiger started to eat the local populace. When she tried to convince him to be a vegetarian, he ate her instead.”

The art spans from whimsical to serious, and exhibitors are of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds. Visitors will be able to learn about all of the artists at the “Wall of Infamy” – where every artist’s picture and statement will be posted.

Despite all the setbacks, “I do want to do it again next year,” Jameson said. “It’s such a wonderful thing for women in this community.”

There will be three public opportunities in October to see the artwork of Burn The Witch IV. Private viewings may also be scheduled by calling Nyoka Jameson at 204-1342. For more information visit www.myspace.com/burninginbako or e-mail burninginbako@gmail.com.

Burn The Witch IV: Opening Show

3 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17

Westchester Hall, 2801 F St.

$5 at the door; portion of proceeds benefit Alliance Against Family Violence

Burn The Witch IV: Comedy Show

8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28

Westchester Hall, 2801 F St.

$2.50 beers; proceeds benefit Bakersfield Emerging and Contemporary Artists

Burn The Witch IV: Halloween Party

3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31

Westchester Hall, 2801 F St.

There will be a costume contest and games.