Reflections on Synthetic Action (exhibition)
Artist: Brie Ruais et al
Year: 2016
Date of Action: December 2016
Region: North America
Location: Snow Mass, Colorado
Subject: Explicit Sexuality, Nudity
Medium: Film Video, Mixed Media, Painting, Sculpture
Confronting Bodies: Anderson Rach Arts Center in Snowmass Colorado
Description of Artwork: The group exhibition in the Patton Mallot Gallery at Anderson Ranch was to include the work of David Aipperspach, John Emerson, Jessica Harvey, Ethan Jackson, Katie Lewis, Wade Folger MacDonald, Julie Malen and Adrien Segal. Amongst the artists there was a very diverse range of styles and mediums. Brie Ruais' work involved a video recording from the ceiling. She performed a piece by spreading clay out on the ground in the nude. The vantage point of the camera view was such that only her back was exposed to the audience.
The Incident: All of the artists who presented work in this exhibition were required to sign a gallery agreement, but the agreement did not mention any rules against nudity. Brie's work was taken out of the exhibition because of a child protection policy which was written in the resident handbook. this frustrated and disturbed many of the artists as they did not receive any information telling them what was or was not appropriate for the exhibition, rather the work was just taken out without proper explanation.
Results of Incident: Because Colorado has an "At-will" law that says that they can fire anyone for anything at any time without reason or cause, this firing was entirely legal and in accordance with the rules.
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