I posted this question about disclaimers/warning labels in response to a
discussion on the topic on Museum-Ed.  Any other opinions from Museum-L?

Julia Moore
Indianapolis Art Center


>What about warning people that they may be offended even before entering?
>I object to creating tempests in teapots by telling people to look out for
>offensive stuff, but sometimes people are caught off-guard by offensive
>exhibitions and prefer to know in advance if they are likely to be
>shocked. We are, even as we speak, installing an exhibition and we want to
>warn people that it might offend them (there is some cartoon-ish nakedness
>as opposed to "artistic" nudity, and an explicit scatalogical reference) or
their
>children.  We are posting the following warning (this is still a draft at
>this point):
>
>INDIANA DIRECTIONS '96 contains material that might offend some viewers.
>The Indianapolis Art Center requests that persons under the age of 18 be
>accompanied by an adult when viewing the exhibition.
>
>(The visitor then has to open a closed door to enter the exhibition.  The
>first room, which they can see through the door, does not contain the
>potentially offensive material.  They can see into the second room, but
cannot see the material until they round a corner)
>
>Is this a sufficient deterrent?  Can someone else suggest better wording?
>What has everybody else used?
>
>There is some urgency as we need to post something by the end of the day
>Friday.
>
>On another matter, once we had a show that had a beautiful portrait of two
>women (both clothed, but standing very close to each other with the hand of
one placed on the shoulder of the other).  There was a
>little controversy because the women were obviously lesbians, and by
>exhibiting it we were seen to be condoning homosexual relationships.  It
>was part of a traveling show about marriage that had a wonderful,
>interpretive catalogue.  We explained as best as we could to those who
>objected, but what more could we have done without belaboring the point?
>
>Thanks--
>
>Julia Moore
>Indianapolis Art Center
>
>