Artist: Dorrie Lane
Confronting Bodies: General manager of the Masonic Auditorium, Chris Carpenter
Date of Action: February 2002
Specific Location: San Fransisco, California
Description of Artwork: Lane's sculpture is a 300-lb, 12-by-9 foot model of a vulva. It has a steel frame and is upholstered in red and purple velvet. Another sculpture in the exhibit was a giant ball of bras called the "Braball."
Description of Incident: The vulva and "Braball" were part of an exhibit that accompanied the performance of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" at the Masonic Auditorium in Nob's Hill. After objections from the Masonic hall's management, the vulva and "Braball" were covered with sheets and only allowed to show during the evening of the performance. Chris Carpenter told Lane and the event coordinator, Melissa Howden, that he did not want to recieve complaints from other guests, the general public and a school across the street from the auditorium.
Results of Incident: Though Howden and Lane disagreed with the covering of the sculpture's, they respected Carpenter's decision.
Source: The San Francisco Chronicle
Submitted By: NCAC