Have you had your ART CENSORED since 9-11?

Email these folks with your story.

In light of the recent events of September 11, 2001, the topic of censorship is again in the forefront and has renewed life. This session is a follow-up to a session on censorship, Contained/Controlled, held in 1996 at the SECAC Conference at Richmond, Virginia. However, this session will specifically focus on works censored, removed or destroyed as a direct result of the tragic events of that September day.

Artists who were having exhibitions of their work, unexpectedly found out that the forms, images and concepts dealt with in their artwork now took on new meaning, many times with no relation to the artists' actual intentions. People now looked at their artwork in an entirely new way. Work that was deemed acceptable prior to 9-11 was suddenly considered inappropriate to exhibit. Since the artworks have not changed, what has?

This new form of censorship has taken two distinct tracts.
One - works censored as a direct result of 9-11 as well as those artworks that are being censored in light of the new neopatriotism and or in the fervent effort not to offend and be politically correct. Artists whose work showed images of war planes, fires, persons dressed in traditional Arab garb, servicemen or any uniformed workers are at peril of having their work or words censored and their art work removed from public view.

The second, is that many groups are using the events of 9-11 as an excuse to remove artworks they deem offensive even though they may not have anything to do with the terrorist acts committed. This kind of opportunism is most clearly exemplified by Mayor Rudolf Giulianiās attempt to resurrect the formation of his so-called "decency commission".

Papers are sought from artists who have had their work censored as a direct effect of the events of 9-11. Additionally, museum or gallery curators who have been forced to remove works of art from current exhibitions are also encouraged to relate their experience regarding the changes of exhibiting artwork in this new era. In addition, input from historians who can begin to place these events into historical perspective and contemporary context are also encouraged.

Trina Renee Nicklas and Steven Bleicher
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
1799 S.E. 17th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
trinarenee@earthlink.net
stbleicher@aol.com