Artist: Michael Duffy
Confronting Bodies: Santa Cruz Arts Commission
Date of Action: 1994
Specific Location: Santa Cruz California
Description of Artwork: One piece in question was a caricature of a local official surrounded by stuffed weasels called "A Bunch of Weasel." Another was a collage targeting White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, and Duffy's disappointment with his treatment after leaving the United States Army called "Thanks, Leon."
Description of Incident: The Santa Cruz Arts Commission invited Duffy to exhibit his works for three months in a government center. While Duffy was installing the five pieces that he chose, he was asked to remove the two considered more political than those in his original proposal.
Results of Incident: "A Bunch of Weasels" and "Thanks, Leon" were not included in the exhibit, though the remainder of Duffy's works were allowed to stay.
Source: Artistic Freedom Under Attack, 1995
Submitted By: NCAC