Two years ago, I had a show by an installation artist (a woman) that showed
female genitalia without my knowledge (and I helped install the show).  For
weeks, there was a lot of heat about the outrageous exhibit and I couldn't
figure out what was wrong.  I defended the artists' integrity, our freedom
of expression (This is America!), and "This is what art looks like now!,"
etc. etc.  When it was eventually pointed out to me I got red in the face,
but hid my ignorance and kept on defending it.  Children and people 59 years
and younger loved it.  No problem. But women, 60 and over, were boycotting
us and denouncing me all over town.  It seemed to be a generational problem.
But I loved the dialogue and publicity and would do it again.
Tom Edmonds, Curator
Andover Historical Society
Andover, MA

-----Original Message-----
From: Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, February 05, 1999 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: kids and nudity in art


Robert and Deborah Bain schrieb:
> Hello.
>
> I am preparing a Valentine's Day family program that focuses on the
> representation of Cupid in painting.  Some of the paintings I would like
> to include have women with bare breasts.  The programs are for 4 to 6
> year-olds and 7 to 12 year olds.  Do you have any suggestions for
> dealing with nudity in art if a parent or child feels uncomfortable with
> the situation?
>
> Thank you for any ideas.
>
> Deborah Bain

Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten, Kunzweg 23, D-81243 Muenchen,
Tel/Fax: 089-839 690 43, http://WebMuseen.de/VERLAGCMS
MAGAZINES AND BOOKS IN MUSEOLOGY (GERMAN/ENGLISH)+ GERMAN THESAURI

Dear Deborah,

are you kidding? The parents for shure have studied every detail of the
confessions of a president and the kids know the Playboy since some years.
Nudity as such is not bad, nudity in art no problem. Your project does not
deal
with porn, isn `t ist?

Best wishes

CMS