Siren

From Censorpedia

Date: 1998

Region: North America

Subject: Nudity

Medium: Painting


Artist: Michael Savage

Confronting Bodies: Art show committee

Dates of Action: July 1998

Location: National Art Show, Dubois, Wyoming

Description of Artwork: Painting on metal featuring topless mermaids.

The Incident: Savage's painting, Siren, was excluded from the National Art Show in Dubois for featuring frontal nudity. The committee, who has final say in what pieces are acceptable for the show, commented that the town is just not ready for such art.

Results of Incident: Savage picketed the nine days of the show and displayed his painting for passerby who asked to see it. He took a poll to see how many people disapproved of his work. By his count, 182 of the 185 people who saw the painting found it acceptable. Savages painting was published in the Dubois Frontier.

Source: NCAC, National Campaign for Freedom of Expression