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