Not the Knitting You Know (exhibition)
Date: 2005
Region: North America
Subject: Nudity
Medium: Sculpture, Exhibition
Artist: Crochet-Sculptor Ming-Yi Sung
Confronting Bodies: Employees at the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Dates of Action: June, 2005
Location: Eleven Eleven Sculpture Space, a gallery space in the lobby of an office tower housing the Morgan, Lewis & Bockius law firm in Washington D.C.
Description of Artwork: The offending pieces were crocheted nude figures with exposed breasts and genitalia.
The Incident: Eleven Eleven opened a 15-artist exhibit titled Not the Knitting You Know in June, 2005. Sung's nude figures' exposed privates triggered complaints from employees at the law firm who had to cross the lobby, and thus through the exhibition, each day for work. The firm was concerned about the comfort of its employees, and any clients and visitors who may enter the building and assume the firm sponsored the sculptures. The complaints were brought to the attention of Binnie Fry, the curator of the exhibit, who tried to find an alternative to removing the work.
Results of Incident: As a compromise, Sung crocheted fig leaves and a cod-fish-shaped codpiece to cover up her nudes.
Source: The Washington Post Online: www.washingtonpost.com
