Police close down a Cincinnati museum because an exhibit is ”too controversial.” A college president in Lebanon, Ill., imposes ”content restrictions” on artistic events on campus. Exhibition organizers in Columbia, Md., impose a ”no nudes, no controversy” restriction on entrants in a photography competition.
Challenges to artistic freedom are increasing, say the People For The American Way, a liberal activist organization founded 12 years ago by Norman Lear and a group of civic and religious leaders.
In support of free artistic expression, the 300,000-member, Washington, D.C.-based non-profit group established Artsave, a national project that monitors challenges and helps artists and art institutions defend themselves.
Sunday afternoon in a barricaded alley next to 858 W. Belmont Ave., despite oppressive heat and humidity, some 400 people wandered in and out of a four-hour, four-band bash in support of the project. Though admission was free, a 20-item artwork auction was expected to raise $3,000. It was set up in the Gargoyle Bar & Grille, part of the four-store Alternative Shopping Complex adjacent to the alley.
Censorship ”takes away one of our most fundamental and precious rights as Americans. I can`t believe it`s even going on,” said Cindy DeMarco, the event`s organizer. ”Since I`m not an artist myself, this is my
contribution.”
Many in the sweltering crowd resembled art objects themselves. Like Cece Stelljes, sporting what she called ”pinkish-orange” hair, a black-veiled hat and a sleeveless red dress revealing a sizable sun tattoo.
”What one person perceives as being on the edge and totally outrageous may be everyday fare to someone else,” she said over the blare of a rockabilly band that set up outside the complex`s punk rock shop. ”Who are they to restrict what other people do?”
Mark Thomas, owner of the complex, offered a more discriminating view.
”Frankly, I have a problem with bad taste,” he said. ”Like the Ice-T
`Cop Killer` thing. I don`t know if I`d sell it in my store, but I insist he has a right to sing it and have it published. Everybody has a right to a public forum. That`s what this country is all about.”
