Helen Glazer wrote:
>In situations like this, one often finds that the people making the decisions
>haven't
>thought it all through,and they're reacting to a situation they imagine
>rather than to past experience.  They may be reacting to a
>specific group or to an incident which happened in the past, but which seems
>like a
>different issue to you.  In this case, can discuss with them how this project
>is different and they might be reassured.

(I would suggest that *all* concerned parties keep this in mind, including
the museum in question.   How important is it to your project to use
artwork that includes frontal nudity? What role would it play?  How
important is it to the project team, and why?  Perhaps this doesn't need to
be an issue.

A segment of your public has told you of a concern, and I agree that it
would be good to discuss this with them to find out what their concern
entails.  However, I would be careful not to label their concern simply as
censorship.  It is obviously of enough importance to them that they were
willing to inform you in advance of something with which they would be
uncomfortable.)

and wrote:
>I would also be prepared with documentation which shows that these things are
>widely accepted--e.g. statues that are located at popular tourist sites,
>public squares and
>fountains, or artwork that is on display in your local museums without
>incident.

(Just because something is widely accepted does not mean that it is
*acceptable*.  Although I agree that nudity in many classical works is
harmless, there are many classical and contemporary works that are
controversial because of their nudity or subject matter.  Though the artist
has the right to create their artwork, every segment of our public has the
right to choose whether or not they would like to view such artwork.
Sometimes a museum needs to choose between (1) showing the artwork and
potentially losing that segment of the public, and (2) not showing the
artwork in deference to that segment of the public.  Whatever we decide, we
need to remember that it is the public we serve, and we should both respect
their opinions and show them our respect by listening to their concerns as
Ms. Glaser suggested.)

Just my opinion,
Bill

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William H. Stirrat  (Bill)
Evaluator/Market Researcher              ? !
Our Minnesota Science Hall                  o
Science Museum of Minnesota          /( )\
30 East 10th Street                                    /\
St. Paul, MN  55101
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