TITLE
Date: 2012
Region: North America
Subject: Explicit Sexuality
Medium: Drawing Collage
Artist: Blair Brennan, Patrick J. Reed and Richard Boulet
Confronting Bodies: Teresa Koslo, manager of cultural services with Strathcona County Recreation, Parks and Culture
Dates of Action: March 2012
Location: Gallery @501, Strathcona County, Alberta, Canada
Description of Artwork: Three artists' works are featured in this exhibit. Using "deliberately low-tech" materials, Brennan, Reed, and Boulet created diary-like pieces out of ink and paint, along with "the detritus of everyday life." Brennan also showcased "two first aid kits, both painted white and lined with red velvet," one containing a pair of horns and the other a utility knife emblazoned with the word "DEFIANCE."
The Incident: Although it is unclear which specific pieces were removed from the exhibit by Gallery @501, Koslo stated that five works were removed. These pieces included either profanity or sexuality presented in a "dark" nature. In order to "be cognizant of target audiences," the gallery self-censored; Koslo also cited the need for a more concrete set of guidelines of what to display in the gallery as a reason for the removal of certain pieces from the exhibit.
Results of Incident: While Gallery @501 declares that it wants to be "as open and educational" as possible, the establishment is grappling with reconciling this mission with community values.
Source: Sherwood Park News article Latitude 53
