Butterfly: Difference between revisions
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====Date: [[:Category: | ====Date: [[:Category:2000|2000]]==== | ||
====Region: [[:Category:North America|North America | ====Region: [[:Category:North America|North America]]==== | ||
====Subject: [[:Category:Political/Economic/Social Opinion|Political/Economic/Social Opinion | ====Subject: [[:Category:Political/Economic/Social Opinion|Political/Economic/Social Opinion]]==== | ||
====Medium: [[:Category:Painting|Painting | ====Medium: [[:Category:Painting|Painting]]==== | ||
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[[File:Tuohey.jpg|right]] | |||
'''Artist:''' Michele Tuohey | '''Artist:''' Michele Tuohey | ||
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'''Location:''' The Artisans Building at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois. | '''Location:''' The Artisans Building at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois. | ||
'''Description of Artwork:''' A " | '''Description of Artwork:''' A 77" x 77" oil on canvas. | ||
'''The Incident:''' On August 11, 2000, Michele Tuohey’s painting | '''The Incident:''' On August 11, 2000, Michele Tuohey’s painting ''Butterfly'' was removed from an exhibition on Cuban art at the Illinois State Fair. ''Butterfly'', symbolizing her transition into motherhood and her subsequent rebirth as a mother, depicts two nude women descending and ascending a staircase. An umbilical cord stretching from between one woman's legs is attached to a fetus, with the face of an adult woman. The fetus represents Tuohey herself in her new role as mother. She painted the work around the time of the birth of her first child in 1993, and chose it for the show because of her pride in it and its highly expressive, personal nature. The painting was hung, but the morning the show was to open it was removed from the Artisans Building wall at the orders of Department of Agriculture director Joe Hampton. The reason according to Department of Agriculture spokesman John Herath, was that the painting was deemed too graphic and suggestive for a family audience at a state fair. | ||
'''Results of Incident:''' The painting was never allowed to be shown at this exhibition. As a result, the National Coalition Against Censorship responded with a letter endorsed by numerous local and national arts organizations, lawyers and artists urging Governor Ryan to adopt a statement of artistic freedom in government spaces. | '''Results of Incident:''' The painting was never allowed to be shown at this exhibition. As a result, the National Coalition Against Censorship responded with a letter endorsed by numerous local and national arts organizations, lawyers and artists urging Governor Ryan to adopt a statement of artistic freedom in government spaces. | ||
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'''Source:''' Oscar Martinez | '''Source:''' Oscar Martinez | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:2000]] | ||
[[Category:]] | [[Category:2000s]] | ||
[[Category:]] | [[Category:21st century]] | ||
[[Category:North America]] | [[Category:North America]] | ||
[[Category:Political/Economic/Social Opinion]] | [[Category:Political/Economic/Social Opinion]] | ||
[[Category:Painting]] | [[Category:Painting]] | ||
[[Category:Michele Tuohey]] | [[Category:Michele Tuohey]] | ||
{{DISPLAYTITLE:<span style="font-style: italic;">Butterfly</span>}} | |||
__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
Latest revision as of 17:13, 10 February 2012
Date: 2000
Region: North America
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Painting
Artist: Michele Tuohey
Confronting Bodies: The director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Dates of Action: August 11, 2000
Location: The Artisans Building at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois.
Description of Artwork: A 77" x 77" oil on canvas.
The Incident: On August 11, 2000, Michele Tuohey’s painting Butterfly was removed from an exhibition on Cuban art at the Illinois State Fair. Butterfly, symbolizing her transition into motherhood and her subsequent rebirth as a mother, depicts two nude women descending and ascending a staircase. An umbilical cord stretching from between one woman's legs is attached to a fetus, with the face of an adult woman. The fetus represents Tuohey herself in her new role as mother. She painted the work around the time of the birth of her first child in 1993, and chose it for the show because of her pride in it and its highly expressive, personal nature. The painting was hung, but the morning the show was to open it was removed from the Artisans Building wall at the orders of Department of Agriculture director Joe Hampton. The reason according to Department of Agriculture spokesman John Herath, was that the painting was deemed too graphic and suggestive for a family audience at a state fair.
Results of Incident: The painting was never allowed to be shown at this exhibition. As a result, the National Coalition Against Censorship responded with a letter endorsed by numerous local and national arts organizations, lawyers and artists urging Governor Ryan to adopt a statement of artistic freedom in government spaces.
Source: Oscar Martinez
