Artist: Ben Rubin, Cedar Nordbye, Julie Purwin and Steven Giese
Confronting Bodies: University of Iowa administrators and police
Date of Action: 1995
Specific Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Description of Artwork: "Exquisite Community" is a set of nine paintings showing human body parts on bed-sheets. When assembled the paintings form three figures. One of the paintings contains a picture of male genitalia.
Description of Incident: "Exquisite Community" was assembled on the side of a university building for an arts festival, after recieving a permit. The director of planning and administrative services, Richard Gibson, ordered the paintings removed, hours after they were installed. Gibson claimed that they violated the University's policy prohibiting the attachent of materials to the outside of buildings. Police were called to remove the paintings.
Results of Incident: The artists have requested compensation for pieces damaged in the removal. The Iowa District Attorney is processing the request.
Source: Artistic Freedom Under Attack, 1996
Submitted By: NCAC