Forms and Figures (exhibit)
Date: 1995
Region: North America
Subject: Nudity
Medium: Mixed Media
Artist: Various
Confronting Bodies: Orleans town hall employees
Dates of Action: 1995
Location: Orlans, Massachusetts
Description of Artwork: The exhibit, "Forms and Figures," featured forty works by numerous local artists. The images ranged from flowers and buildings to male and female nudes. According to Linda Collins of the Orleans Cultural Council, only one of the nudes was depicted realistically.
The Incident: Town hall employees complained and anonymously covered the nude works. Some complained that the nudes were inappropriate for the work place. These employees asked that the council enact a policy restricting nudes.
Results of Incident: The proposed restritions were ruled unconstitutional. The town's Board of Selectmen decided to install works on free standing walls that can be positioned so employees are not forced to view them.
Source: Artistic Freedom Under Attack, 1996
