"> Name: War related art exhibit canceled in Ohio

Date:  1995 - 2005

Location:  North America

SubjectPolitical/Economic/Social Opinion

MediumMixed Media


Artist: Cat Cutcher, coordinator of exhibit, artist

Confronting Bodies: Tim Peacock, director of Stuart's Opera House

Date of Action: April-May, 2005

Specific Location: Stuart's Opera House, Nelsonville, Ohio

Description of Artwork: The "In Times of War" exhibit featured the artwork of forty artists. The artwork had war related themes.



Description of Incident: Stuart's Opera House decided to cancel the "In Times of War" exhibit. The director of Stuart's Opera House had not prescreened the artwork included in the exhibit. However, once the director saw the artwork, he decided that the Opera House was not an appropriate location to show the work. The director said that the Opera House does notlike to exhibit political artwork. Before the director of the Opera House had seen the artwork, the coordinator of the exhibit had already eliminated several works depicting nudes because the Opera House preferred non-violent and non-graphic works. The director of the Opera House did not want to exhibit artworks that would be inappropriate for children to view. Similiar controversies surrounded the artwork at exhibits at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center and at the Alden Library.



Results of Incident: As a result of the cancellation of the show, seven to ten people held a protest in Nelsonville. The protesters covered their mouths in tape claiming that the Opera House's action amounted to censorship.



Source: The Athens News

Submitted By: Danielle Biber



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