Gateway to Hope

Medium: Mixed Media

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Artist: Nancy Worthington

Confronting Bodies: The China National Censorship Board, The Conservatory of Fine Arts

Date of Action: March 25, 2008

Location: Beijing, China

Description of Artwork: Gateway To Hope, Mixed media collage/drawing on paper 28cm X 21.5cm, © Nancy Worthington 2007

The Incident: Artist Statement: "On March 25, 2008 I received an e-mail from The Conservatory of Fine Arts, sponsors of the Beijing Exhibit that my artwork Gateway to Hope was censored from the exhibition. (The artwork was accepted in October 2007.) I created this work specifically for the exhibition which is entitled Dream of Peace. I was told that Gateway to Hope was rejected because of its political context. Works by other artists which contained political content (opposition to the Iraqi war, Palestinian-Israeli conflict) were left in the show. My belief is that Gateway to Hope was censored because it contained an image of the Statue of Liberty, which I used as a symbol of hope." Nancy Worthington's artwork was accepted in October 2007 into the exhibition Her Presence in Colours VIII = International Women Artists' Exhibition-Beijing 2008. Artists were asked to submit an artwork that "reflects an issue that is related to the theme: Dream of Peace." Ms. Worthington was one of 8 artists representing the United States in this exhibition. For more information, go to Ms. Worthington's website: www.domjoy.com and click on "site news"

Results of Incident: Artist submitted another work, Elvis Sold Gold Rock and Roll which was accepted into the exhibition although it had nothing to do with theme of "Peace"

Source: Global Voices On Line, April 16, 2008