Censorpedia: An Interactive Database of Censorship Incidents

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Today's Featured Case


Brian Wiggins, Fuck Trump, 2016, 11x14, gouache on bristol.jpg

Artist: Brian Wiggins

Year: 2016

Date of Action: October 2016

Region: North America

Location: Allentown, PA

Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion

Medium: Painting

Confronting Bodies: Allentown Art Museum

Description of Artwork: "FUCK TRUMP" is an 11x14 inch gouache by artist Brian Wiggins. The abstract geometric work is made up of a grid of colored squares that spell the words FUCK TRUMP. It was included in the original Allentown Art Museum installation of 'Hues of Red and Blue: The 2016 Presidential Election,' which was a juried exhibition of works by more than twenty artists in a range of media. The show was intended to "present critiques, lampoons, and straight-on representations of the candidates, their supporters, and issues being discussed this hectic election season” (from the exhibition press release). It opened October 20 at the Allentown Art Museum with spill-over at RE:find, a local Allentown gallery.

The Incident: After the show was installed and before the Museum's opening cocktail reception, the Museum was pressured by members of its board and the community to remove Wiggins' painting because it was too offensive. The Museum immediately removed the work in time for the opening party, placing it instead at the RE:find gallery location. Wiggins' name did not appear on any press materials, announcements, or on the Museum's exhibition webpage.

Results of Incident: Under pressure, the artist agreed to let the Museum move his work off site. His name remains missing from all exhibition documentation.

Source:



Hues of Red and Blue: The 2016 Presidential Election, Thu, 10/20/2016 - Sun, 11/13/2016 - Payne Hurd Gallery & RE:find Gallery on the Walk

HUES OF RED AND BLUE, October 20 (Thursday) Opening reception of Hues of Red and Blue 6-8 p.m.

Allentown ArtsWalk views of 2016 Presidential Election, Friday, November 18, 2016 by ED COURRIER Special to The Press

Allentown Art Museum exhibit: The art of the presidential matter, by Tim Higgins Oct 22, 2016]

Video walk-thru: Hues of Red and Blue exhibition opens in Allentown

Hues of Red & Blue Images



What is Censorpedia?

Censorpedia is a crowdsourced online database of censorship cases within the arts and in culture. It is aimed at those researching censorship, at activists working for freedom of expression and at artists and other cultural producers whose expression has been subject to censorship or attempted censorship.

Censorpedia documents censorship incidents by providing the who, what, when, where and why. By providing a repository of information about what is vulnerable to censorship and about the strategies and tactics that have defeated previous’ censorship attempts, Censorpedia aids the fight for free expression.

Researchers can search for a specific case, year or keyword using the search box, as well as browse by medium, by grounds for censorship, or explore a random case.

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Censorpedia builds on the landmark 1994 art project The File Room, initiated by Muntadas.

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