Jewett, Freeborn G., Jr.

Kreeger, David Lloyd

English

DigitalCommons@URI

University of Rhode IslandDigitalCommons@URIObscenity: News Articles (1989) Education: National Endowment for the Arts andHumanities, Subject Files II (1962-1996)1989Obscenity: News Articles (1989): Editorial 02Freeborn G. Jewett Jr.David Lloyd KreegerFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_II_58This Editorial is brought to you for free and open access by the Education: National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, Subject Files II(1962-1996) at DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Obscenity: News Articles (1989) by an authorized administrator ofDigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@etal.uri.edu.Recommended CitationJewett, Freeborn G. Jr. and Kreeger, David Lloyd, "Obscenity: News Articles (1989): Editorial 02" (1989). Obscenity: News Articles(1989). Paper 17.http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_II_58/17http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_II_58/17I. .a..-.vl'lr'-D.U J:J-. ~ lY;l~ i. · .. The Corcoran: JTe Did the:'Right Thing · ' -·. The decision of the. director and board ·The exhibition was to be held iil Wash7 a nwnber of photographs that Some ntliy : of trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art ington, the seat of the federal govern- · deem shocking and past the bounds Of to· withdraw from the tour Of the Robert ment. ·In another photographic exhibition artistic license; Others may consid& Mapplethorpe photograp~y exhibition show1narlier- this. year at musewns ·in ,them acceptable within the context of tbe · created a sharp· reaction by the press and Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Riclunond, · exhibition and in the light of the artisf.'s the'musewn'oommunity, some condemn-· orte photograph was considered to have traditional freedom to ,exp~·hin)self.lt ing and soine suppOrting the deciSion. transcended the limit$ of bad taSte .. Ap- .. is . nOt OUr fwiction . to mediate such an. . Because of the scope and intensity of the , proximately 106 members of Congress issue n0r to delineate the bouhda{Y °'be-criticisin, the Corcoran managem_ent ~d contacted the National Endowment for tWeen artistic freedom and institlltional the board of trustees have reviewed our · the Aits to question the $15,000 grant 'bility 1 · • action in depth.. The conclusion reached is made to the artist, while 36 senators ~the circumstances of a:~_ that the decision to withdraw was pru~ expressed outrage, .callirig for refonn Of situation, it is V"'."'. much o. ui ~.!"':.;.'I.:!;_. dent and sound. , · the NEA's grant-awarding process. ..,,. 3 '~ . Opinions may differ about th~ propriety We deplore any attempt . by govern- tybesttout~teres. . tsOofl,lfourbesms~ ju:::.~ ash---. le> tf!e_ of items in rontemporary .art exhibitions. . ment, directly or indirectly, to censor the ...... v~ Uridel: universally respected principles of · artistic judgment of artists and museums, difficult the choices may be. I~ is indeed· artistic freedom of expr•n, a musewn and indeed the NEA is forbidden by law our function to ensure that th~ Corcoran would not censor controversial items from interfering. with the content of the dOes not damage itself or the NEA and within· a generally meritorious artistic exhibiti~ it supports. Nevertheless, ·the the greater arts community. W~J· presentation. In certain ciJ:cumstances, basic freedom of the agency to awarcl " ~~ considerationS; and being fuUy however, a public exhibition of controver- grants ac:cordiilg to the ~t judgment of. aware of.the public controversy about the sial items may be so inflammatory ll!ld its experts and .the size of its -annual , , propriety of our action, the directOr mid . provocative as ·to invite consequences appropriation are being severely exam- the board Of trustees on June 26 recif--that neg;lte its educational and aesthetic · ined ~both houses of Congresstc;> det~- finned the Corcoriln's withdrawal from · value. In the opinion of. the director, . J!line ·whether r~traints on the opera- . the tour of the. Mapplethorpe exbibitirin supported by the board of trustees of the tio~s of the agency or budget cuts should · as the ~ent and wise 00~ of actiQn . _ Corcoran, the Mapplethorpe exhibition be uni>osed.. . t this tiJhe · ' ·· · · · was preciSely such a case." · The Mapplethorpe exhibition contains a .FREEBORN G. JEWE'.IT Ji . . . President. BoardcifTrusuia .-The Cox Study Is 'Bal~ney' · The National Rifle Asoociation's "ba-loney'' ·["Assault Guns as Crim~lWeap-- __ , ~ ---''.:I!-- -~1L.: per ~dy that mere!Y demonstrates how inilitary-style firearms are more likely to '-"" tr.>rM th:m ordinary-looking" fiream{s. . DAVID LLOYD KREEGER Chairm8n, Boardoftnlsteini . Corcoran Gallery of Art · Washington 

Obscenity: News Articles (1989): Editorial 02

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Obscenity: News Articles (1989): Editorial 02

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