See No Evil Exhibit at the University of Oregon
Date: 1994
Region: North America
Subject: Explicit Sexuality
Medium: Mixed Media, Exhibition,
Artist: Brooke Molla and Isabel Samaras.
Confronting Bodies: University of Oregon Erb Memorial Union Director
Dates of Action: 1994
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Description of Artwork: Brooke Molla's untitled work features four little girls' dresses that are stained and have cigarette holes burnt into them. One skirt has "If the Hole's not big enough, put it in her mouth" written across it. Isabel Samara's untitled piece is a television tray with "Star Trek" characters Spock and Captain Kirk embraced in a kiss painted on it.
The Incident: These two pieces were part of an ACLU exhibit called See No Evil, part of a month-long Uncensored Celebration. The artists were invited to display previously censored works. After the exhibit was installed the Union Director, Dusty Miller, told the Cultural Forum Visual Arts Coordinator, Anna Spickerman, that Saturn's and Molla's pieces violated the state's obscenity law. The two pieces were curtained off from the rest of the exhibit, out of view from passing students.
Results of Incident: Spickerman organized a letter writing campaign to the Union Board of Directors requesting that they reconsider Miller's decision. The Board overturned his decision, however Miller appealed to the University President who did not respond. The curtains remained until the end of the exhibit.
Source: Artistic Freedom Under Attack, 1995.
