Censorship

1992
Watercolor, pen and ink, color pencil.
7" x 8"

There was a lot of controversy surrounding the National Endowment For the Arts in the early 90s. The NEA took heat for financing several controversial artists (like Robert Maplethorpe). As a result the government, led by conservatives, took steps to rein in the NEA and prevent them from funding "questionable" art. At the time I thought this was a dangerous precedent—did we really want Jesse Helms and his ilk determining what constitutes art? I felt it was censorship, clear and simple.

But in the years since then, my position has softened some. Quite frankly a lot of what passes for art these days is crap. I don't want my tax dollars going to hacks churning out shock schlock. Still, when Ashcroft decided that the nude sculptures at the Justice Dept. should be covered out of modesty, I groaned.

I'm still against censorship as a general rule, but I can see the need for limits on public funding and recognize that not all artwork is appropriate for all venues. In fact, there are probably those who don't like the nudity in my pieces. Oh well.