Artist: George orwell
Confronting Bodies: widefield, school district
Date of Action: 1981
Specific Location: Jackson county, florida
Description of Artwork: its a novel about pro-communist
Description of Incident: they did not want highschool students to read it
Results of Incident: it was banned and know it is not
Source: forbidden library
Date Input: Monday, April 28, 2008
Date Edited:
Name: Gladys Barker Grauer works censored in Morristown, NJ
[ Edit ]
Date: 2006-present
Location: North America
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Painting
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Artist: Gladys Barker Grauer
Confronting Bodies: Morris County officials
Date of Action: January 2007
Specific Location: Morris County Administration and Records Building in Morristown, New Jersey
Description of Artwork: Morris County officials removed two of Grauer's works, "Free Mumia Abu Jamal" and "Free Leonard Peltier". Both pieces are woven with plastic bags cut into strips on a four-harness floor loom. The images are painted on the surface with acrylic paint.
Description of Incident: Gladys Barker Grauer received the surprise of her life when, Morris County officials claimed that the pieces were removed because they were considered "offensive." Jamal was convicted of killing a police officer in Philadelphia in 1981 and Native American Peltier was convicted of killing two FBI agents in South Dakota.
According to the show's curator and Art in the Atrium co-founder, Viki Craig, a particular objection came from the Morris County Prosecutor Michael M. Rubbinaccio who was angered by the placement of the controversial works across from his office. Rubbinaccio has denied having any involvement in the removal of the works, but County representatives concede that the works were removed by employees at the direction of at least one County official.
Results of Incident: Grauer filed a Federal lawsuit in Newark stating that her First Amendment rights were violated by the removal of the works from the exhibition. "Art is a form of expression. Before the case was heard, Morris County officials agreed to re-hang Ms. Grauer's artworks in the public exhibit.
The works were reinstalled but the County has yet to apologize to Ms. Grauer or to the public for interfering with the exhibit.
According to the artist, some County officials have threatened further infringements on artists' free expression of ideas ranging from discontinuation of the annual Black History Month show, to hiring a full-time censor, to closing the public gallery all together.
In 2008 Art in the Atrium officials paid closer attention to the selected work - two pieces featuring nudity were voluntarily withdrawn from the annual African-American exhibit.
Source: Morristown Green; Celeste Bateman & Associates
Submitted By: NCAC
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Date Input: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Date Edited: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Name: Nancy Worthington's artwork "Gateway to Hope" censored in China
[ Edit ]
Date: 2006-present
Location: Asia
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Mixed Media
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Artist: Nancy Worthington
Confronting Bodies: The China National Censorship Board, The Conservatory of Fine Arts
Date of Action: March 25, 2008
Specific Location: Beijing, China
Description of Artwork: "Gateway To Hope", Mixed media collage/drawing on paper 28cm X 21.5cm, © Nancy Worthington 2007
Description of Incident: Artist Statement: "On March 25, 2008 I received an e-mail from The Conservatory of Fine Arts, sponsors of the Beijing Exhibit that my artwork "Gateway to Hope" was censored from the exhibition. (The artwork was accepted in October 2007.)I created this work specifically for the exhibition which is entitled "Dream of Peace". I was told that "Gateway to Hope" was rejected because of its political context. Works by other artists which contained political content (opposition to the Iraqi war, Palestinian-Israeli conflict) were left in the show. My belief is that "Gateway to Hope" was censored because it contained an image of the Statue of Liberty, which I used as a symbol of hope." Nancy Worthington's artwork was accepted in October 2007 into the exhibition Her Presence in Colours VIII = International Women Artists' Exhibition-Beijing 2008. Artists were asked to submit an artwork that "reflects an issue that is related to the theme: Dream of Peace." Ms. Worthington is one of 8 artists representing the United States in this exhibition. For more information, go to Ms. Worthington's website: www.domjoy.com and click on "site news"
Results of Incident: Artist submitted another work, "Elvis Sold Gold Rock and Roll" which was accepted into the exhibition although it had nothing to do with theme of "Peace"
Source: Global Voices On Line, April 16, 2008
Date Input: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Date Edited: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Name: exhibition title: Don't trust me
[ Edit ]
Date: 2006-present
Location: North America
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Film Video
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Artist: Adel Abdessemed artist
Confronting Bodies: San francisco art Institute versus extremists animal rights group
Date of Action: 25 march 2008
Specific Location: San francisco art Institute: Walter and Mcbean gallery
Description of Artwork: Video showing animals killed for food
Description of Incident: threats to the life of the curator by extremists
Results of Incident: termination of the exhibition
Source:
http://www.ktvu.com/video/15667485/index.html
Date Input: Sunday, March 30, 2008
Date Edited:
Name: Contemporary art exhibit from Prishtina closed in Belgrade
[ Edit ]
Date: 2006-present
Location: Europe
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
,Racial/Ethnic
Medium: Painting
,Photography
,Mixed Media
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Artist: KONTEKST Gallery in Belgrade
Confronting Bodies: Serbian police, Serbian nationalist forces
Date of Action: February 2008
Specific Location: Belgrade
Description of Artwork: The artists taking part in the exhibition were Artan Balaj, Jakup Ferri, Driton Hajredini, Flaka Haliti, Fitore Isufi Koja, Dren Maliqi, Alban Muja, Vigan Nimani, Nurhan Qehaja, Alketa Xhafa and Lulzim Zeqiri.
Before the exhibition was supposed to be opened in Belgrade a big scandal was produced because of the work you can see on page 40 of the catalog (http://www.kontekstgalerija.org/pdf_08/odstupanje.pdf), it shows adem jashari, an UCK-leader who is considered as freedom fighter by Albanians and stylized to a national icon in Kosovo whereas Serbs consider him as a war criminal and terrorist. The work was destroyed at the opening.
Description of Incident: the exhibition EXCEPTION, Contemporary art scene from Prishtina (Kosova) scheduled to open on 7 February 2008 (and to be on display until 15 February 2008) at KONTEKST Gallery in Belgrade WAS FORCED TO CLOSE JUST BEFORE THE OPENING.
The Serbian police that intervened just before the opening as they estimated that they cannot guarantee safety to the curators and the public, after an organized group of Serbian nationalist forces attacked the gallery space and even destroyed Dren Maliqi's work Face to face.
On 8 February 2008, the curators of the project Vida Knezevic, Kristian Lukic, Ivana Marjanovic and Gordana Nikolic asked PUBLICLY the Ministry of culture of Serbia and the city of Belgrade to react firmly against such nationalist forces in order to protect the exhibition in the future. The curators insisted on the right to present the project in Belgrade in the near future.
On 8 February, these violent nationalist forces attacked again, they threw stones in the windows of the KONTEKST gallery and broke them and destroyed the gallery's sign on the door.
The exhibition was presented previously at the Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad (22.01 - 05.02.2008). The exhibition is a joint effort of two organizations Kontekst, Belgrade, and Napon, Novi Sad.
Results of Incident: The exhibition was closed.
There is a petition to ask the Serbian Government and the governmental bodies of the Serbian Ministry of Culture as well as the Belgrade city council and city institutions to ACT and PROTECT (in accordance with the law) the artists, curators and institutions involved in the organization of the exhibition project.
Source: Marina Grzinic and Rosa Reitsamer
Submitted By: NCAC
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Date Input: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Date Edited:
Name: Vom Polizeigriff zum Übergriff
[ Edit ]
Date: 2006-present
Location: Europe
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Photography
,Mixed Media
,Literature
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Artist: Antidiskriminierungsbüro Berlin
Confronting Bodies: Peter Jung, mayor of Wuppertal
Date of Action: 8th of January 2008 - 22nd of January 2008
Specific Location: Haus der Jugend in Barmen (Wuppertal)
Description of Artwork: It is an exhibition documenting abuses by police forces in Germany. The exhibition is made of photographs and written statements by victims of the abuses and a press documentation of the cases.
Description of Incident: As the 'Haus der Jugend' is owned by the city of Wuppertal, the mayor stoped the exhibition from being shown there one day after the vernisage which had a report on the death and possible murder of Oury Jalloh who was burned to death in police cell in the city of Dessau. The exhibition was closed by direct intervention of heavy police force, throwing everybody out of the hall.
Results of Incident: The exhibition was continued in the rooms of 'Tacheles e.V.' and in the University of Wuppertal
Source: http://thecaravan.org/node/1444
Date Input: Monday, January 21, 2008
Date Edited:
Name: Serious Farce, Summer 1998
[ Edit ]
Date: 1995 - 2005
Location: North America
Subject: Other
,Explicit Sexuality
,Racial/Ethnic
Medium: Performance Art
,Video Art
,Performing Art
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Artist: Chang Wan Wee
Confronting Bodies: Concordia University, The Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery. Montreal
Date of Action: Summer 1998 Chang Wan Wee advertised a non existent exhibition called "Serious Farce" in Montreal.
Specific Location: Concordia University, The Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery.
Description of Artwork: Summer 1998 Chang Wan Wee advertised a non existent exhibition called "Serious Farce" in Montreal.
Description of Incident: http://youtube.com/watch?v=numcbsQh_qQ
Results of Incident: see
http://youtube.com/watch?v=numcbsQh_qQ
Source: Valerio Marques, collaboration
Submitted By: Valerio Marques
valerio_marques@hotmail.com
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Date Input: Sunday, January 6, 2008
Date Edited:
Name: Serious Farce
[ Edit ]
Date: 1995 - 2005
,1995 - 2005
,1995 - 2005
Location: North America
,North America
Subject: Other
,Explicit Sexuality
,Racial/Ethnic
Medium: Performing Art
,Film Video
,Design
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Artist: Chang Wan Wee
Confronting Bodies: Concordia University,
The Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery
Date of Action: Summer 1998
Specific Location: Montreal
Description of Artwork: Summer 1998 Chang Wan Wee advertised a non existent exhibition called "Serious Farce" in Montreal.
Description of Incident: Concordia University and The Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery tried legal action against the artist.
Results of Incident: The university requred a series of letters of apology to be sent.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=numcbsQh_qQ
Source: Valerio Marques, collaboration.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=numcbsQh_qQ
Submitted By: Valerio Marques
Montreal 001 (514) 279-9276 valerio_marques@hotmail.com
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Date Input: Sunday, January 6, 2008
Date Edited:
Name: Surendran Nair Work Withdrawn from National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi
[ Edit ]
Date: 1995 - 2005
Location: Asia
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Painting
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Artist: Surendran Nair
Confronting Bodies: India's Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP)-led government culture ministry officials demanded the withdrawal of a painting from an exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi, the country's premier contemporary art gallery.
Date of Action: September, 2000
Specific Location: Delhi, India
Description of Artwork: The painting, entitled "An actor rehearsing the interior monologue of Icarus," depicted a naked Icarus, the Greek mythological figure, on top of the Ashoka Pillar. It was part of an exhibition by 25 young Indian artists entitled CombineVoice for the New Century.
The Ashoka Pillar dates back to the reign of Emperor Ashoka, who ruled India from 273-232BC, and depicts four lions mounted on a circular abacus with a wheel at its centre. It was adopted as India's national emblem following the end of British rule in 1947.
Description of Incident: Two days before the exhibition was scheduled to open, Culture Ministry Secretary P. V. Vaidynatha Ayyar instructed NGMA director Mukta Nidhi Samnotra to remove the painting from the exhibition, claiming the national emblem had been portrayed in a less than reverential manner and could prompt objections from nationalist elements.
Samnotra, with no background in art and an appointee of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government, agreed with the directive. She said she would also remove a fabric drawing of nude women by Rekha Rodwittiya, Nair's companion, and work by sculptor Rejendar Tikku.
Results of Incident: When exhibition curator, Prima Kurion, and organiser, Amit Gupta, objected and asked Samnotra to reconsider her decision, the NGMA director threatened to personally remove the art works. Outraged over this blatant attack on artistic freedom, all the artists involved in the exhibition withdrew their works in protest.
Source: press
Submitted By: NCAC
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Date Input: Thursday, January 3, 2008
Date Edited: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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