Hi Candace,

I sympathize with you, as this situation has you and your museum stuck
in a potential minefield.  However, you have a duty to be fair to the
mission of your organization and the purpose and subject of the
contemporary fraktur exhibition.

I'm more or less with Bennet Seigel.  If the 'potentially offensive'
marriage certificates enhance the selection of contemporary fraktur, you
could choose to leave the works in the exhibition.  For example: If they
include unique compositions, color schemes or symbols - unlike anything
else in the exhibition - you will lessen the effectiveness of the
exhibition by omitting them.  OTOH, if they do not enhance the selection
-- if they are "more of the same" -- you could leave them out.

As I favor open dialogue and not censorship, I'd lean toward leaving in
examples the artist feels represents his style and technique.  And tell
the board member and/or others who express critical views that the more
attention they draw to the work, the more attention the work will get.
I assume that's the opposite of what they want.  If they simply ignore
it, most visitors will look at those examples, appreciate the style, and
move on . . . likely without even noticing the "gay marriage" content.

Best wishes in this trying time,

Jay Heuman, Curator of Education
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art
Utah State University
4020 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT     84322-4020
T 435.797.0165
F 435.797.3423
 
Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.
Sir Charles Moser, b. 1922

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