Artist: Jef Bourgeau - Detroit artist
Confronting Bodies: City officials in Pontiac, Michigan
Date of Action: 2000
Specific Location: Pontiac, Michigan USA
Description of Artwork: Pieces from Detroit artist Jef Bourgeauメs exhibit titled モArt Until Nowヤ including reproductions of paintings and photographs of nudes.
Description of Incident: Jef Bourgeau mounted an exhibition in a Pontiac gallery in March, 2000 with an arrangement of reproductions of paintings and photographs of nudes, a limited version of his モArt Until Nowヤ exhibit that was canceled at the Detroit Institute of Arts in November, 1999. Of the Pontiac exhibition, Bourgeau stated: モ I was approached by the owner of the Oakland Arts Center; he said that he would like to put together a panel discussion on censorship. He asked me to curate a complementary exhibition in a recently vacated gallery space in the building. The panel itself would occur in a small hall upstairs. The collage was mounted on a wall at right angels to the street [ナ]. The police took Polaroids in extreme close-up of those works they find the most ムobsceneメ and charged and cite me with presenting ムobscene materialsメヤ.
Results of Incident: City officials in Pontiac, Michigan pressed obscenity charges against Detroit artist Jef Bourgeau for his exhibition.
Source: ArtDaily: www.artdaily.com
Submitted By: National Coalition Against Censorship