Mike,

I am about to propose to our joint Ky. Assoc. of Museums and Tn. Assoc. of
Museums annual conference (Mar. 22-24, 00) to organize a committee a
session dealing with just that issue.

 "The Museum as Lightning Rod; Exhibitions/issues that bring attention to
you, whether or not you want it."

At my gallery it was sexually explicit art by a student and we had to jump
through some very small hoops. I hope to find other panelists who have had
positive experiences to hear what they have to say. It is important that
everyone from the maintenance people at the museum to the sunday visitor be
made aware that there may be some offensive material in the show. That
creates a Catch 22. You have given them fair warning but you also bring
attention that such stuff is on exhibit thus piquing their interest. Yours
sounds like fairly tame stuff compared with ours and we weathered the storm
(so far). Try not to get defensive, use a explanatory approach. If anymore
ideas come up at the panel, if it is accepted, I will try to let you know.

Albert Sperath, Univ. Art Galleries

>
>I'm currently working on an exhibition titled Confrontational Clay: The
>Artist as Social Critic that will be traveling for the next two years to a
>variety of museums around the country (the tour begins this January).
>Etc. Etc.
>Sincerely,
>
>Mike
>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>Mike Willis ([log in to unmask])
>Curator of Education
>ExhibitsUSA
>1-800-473-3872 x214

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