I would observe that censoring or censorship happens from someone who has
the power to remove or block expression. No one has done that in this
instance as far as we know. Criticism is what has occurred and that is
entirely appropriate for any mode of expression that has been placed out in
a public setting, be in online or on exhibition. So let's be clear about
this, ok?

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Senior Conservator and Museum Consultant
Los Angeles, CA


On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 9:22 AM, Carol Ely <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Jason Jones wrote: “The following hinges on: I don't believe the dresses
> were museum objects.” and goes on to conclude that it “wasn’t harming
> anything”.
>
>
>
> But that’s an assumption that you have no evidence for – the evidence of
> impropriety was the blogger’s own statement “My friend Lesley and I used to
> work at a museum and one day after work we snuck some brilliant dresses off
> some mannequins”.
>
>
>
> Textile collections are incredibly fragile, and historic clothing worn for
> the trivial reason of a few photographs in a blog was without a doubt
> damaged – stress, sweat, grass, dirt - without the consent of the museum. It
> is inexcusable, and it’s not art, or at least not art that should be
> supported by museum professionals.
>
>
>
> If the items were reproductions, fine, or the blogger’s own vintage, OK,
> but that’s not what she said.
>
>
>
> Costume collections seem to tempt people more than other sorts of objects.
> It’s a struggle for those who manage collections to protect them from
> inappropriate and damaging wear.
>
>
> And that has nothing to do with creative expression, or education. There
> are professional and appropriate ways to share clothing collections with the
> public. This is not one of them.
>
>
>
> Carol Ely
>
> Louisville
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
> Behalf Of *Jason B. Jones
> *Sent:* Friday, February 25, 2011 12:00 PM
>
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: Concerning Blog Post
>
>
>
>
> The following hinges on: I don't believe the dresses were museum objects.
> As explained before.
>
> Considering they took it down off the original site, the way I see it: this
> group of museum professionals just helped to censor an artist's creative
> expression.  An expression the wasn't harming anything, but the museum
> professionals' own sense of decorum regarding the sacredness of language
> about collections. Even if it was "real", shouldn't museum professionals
> know how important it is to challenge popular conceptions? Were would we be
> without artists and academics challenging our beliefs?
>
> I find condemning artist expression of this nature to be a very slippery
> slope. Were does it end? No more loaning of objects? No receptions in
> galleries? No more visitors in the museum?
>
> How do we use our objects to educate, if we can't *use* our objects (or in
> this case the *idea* of the object)?
>
> We should protect artistic expression (especially challenging expression),
> and find ways to use to create an educational dialog - not keep it from
> being seen.
>
>
> I'm 100% for protecting our collections. I'm 100% for protecting artistic
> expression. I'm 100% for using objects and ideas to educate.
>
> I believe more than 100% that museums' have an obligation to make sure
> these 3 happen, and never disappear. Even at our own expense.
>
>
> I think this points to the larger issue of museum survival. If museum
> professionals and current practices can't be questioned (especially
> artistically), then how do we expect to adapt our institutions to meet the
> demands of a changing society?
>
>
>
> Jason
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 9:22 AM, . . <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> Thankfully, it got reblogged a few times.  It's available at
> http://reevesy.tumblr.com/post/3498026123/a-pair-of-kindred-spirits  (For
> those that are unsure as to what reblogging is, think of it as a "reply"
> function on a blog.  It preserves the original message but you can add to it
> as well.  The link I've included, it's fairly easy -to me- to be able to
> tell where the "reply" ends and the original post begins.)
>
>
> -Isabella
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:15:25 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Subject: Re: Concerning Blog Post
>
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> By the way, it looks like those bloggers took down that post. When you
> click on the link you get this message: The URL you requested could not be
> found.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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