Hi Teresa et al.:

One of my foci in researching and writing is censorship.  I'm with Jan
Herman (and countless others on this) on this . . . tempest in a teapot.
<BTW, Herman's comparison to Guernica is a gem.>  However, charges of
the "BIG C" (censorship) are premature considering the social
sensitivity surrounding the subject.  <How's that for alliteration?>

This is not comparable to the Enola Gay (pointed out below) or Robert
Mapplethorpe (another art example) controversies.  Not only are the
circumstances of scale different, but the financial support is
different.  This sculpture was not purchased with public (NEA) funds,
was it?  The venue is not a government facility, is it?  The artist
(Eric Fischl) is well-known and not in need of a public relations mess
to boost visibility.  <Rhetorical questions.>

It is, however, as Teresa indicates, revealing to see the public
reaction . . .

Sincerely,

Jay Heuman
Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art Museum
2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102
342-3300 (telephone)   342-2376 (fax)

"You can’t lock up art in a vault and keep it frozen for posterity. Then
the artist is betrayed, history is betrayed."
(Walter Persegati)



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Teresa Whitt
> Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 9:12 am
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: 9/11 Censorship? Statue of falling woman censored
>
>
> Greetings Listers:
>
> An article has appeared on MSNBC.com, regarding the draping,
> and upcoming removal of a sculpture by Eric Fischl.  The
> sculpture, intended as a memorial to victims of September
> 11th, was placed in Rockefeller Center.  After some
> complaints, the statue was draped, and is reported to be
> scheduled for removal.  To read the articles, go to:
>
> http://www.msnbc.com/news/810019.asp
>
> http://msnbc.com/news/743584.asp?0dm=C13KL
>
> I am interested in listers' opinions on this.  I can't help
> but be reminded of all of the PC flack that came out in the
> 1990s regarding exhibitions and controversial works (can
> anyone say Enola Gay?)  However, this is a different
> situation, but still very interesting.

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