Name: Rhode Island Student's Drawings Removed from Display

Date: 1995 - present

Location: North America

SubjectNudity

MediumDesign


Artist: Andrew Mastrocinque

Confronting Bodies: Portsmouth High School Principal

Date of Action: 1995

Specific Location: Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Description of Artwork: Mastrocinque's charcoal drawings emphasized the human form, featuring male and female nudes.



Description of Incident: Portsmouth High School art teacher, Marilyn Carpenter, chose Mastrocinque for the schools artist of the month and hung five of his drawings in a glass case near the school library. Within hours of their display, the school principal, John Lucas, removed the drawings. Several students protested, hanging signs that read, "Censorship is a disease," and "Art should not be censored." In addition, Carpenter contacted her union claiming a breach of academic freedom.



Results of Incident: The school superintendent promised that there would be no further interference with future exhibits. Carpenter withdrew the grievance and the works were reinstalled in her classroom.



Source: Artistic Freedom Under Attack, 1996

Submitted By: NCAC


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