California State Teacher's Retirement System
Date: 2004
Region: North America
Subject: Explicit Sexuality
Medium: Painting
Artist: Kenney Mencher, artist
Confronting Bodies: California State Teacher's Retirement System
Dates of Action: April, 2004
Location: California State Teacher's Retirement System, Sacramento, California
Description of Artwork: The four paintings removed from the office all depict figures with sexual undertones. In the Reference Desk, a woman is represented sitting at a desk exposing her garter for a standing male figure to see. In Another Roadside Attraction, a woman is pictured alongside a car, looking into the car's interior. In Macys two women, one wearing only a bra, face each other in a doorway. In Hydrant, two men are depicted without shirts, one squatting behind a fire hydrant while it sprays water.
The Incident: The California State Teachers' Retirement System removed the four paintings after employees complained about the paintings' content. The California State Teachers' Retirement System stated that they would remove any artwork that made their employees uncomfortable as part of their zero tolerance policy for harassment.
Results of Incident: The California State Teachers' Retirement System removed the paintings. Mencher believes that when people look at the paintings they bring their own interpretation.
Source: The Sacramento Bee, [www.sacbee.com]