Censored!

According to Webster's 10th edition, in 1882 the use of the term censor added to its meanings as Roman census counter, moral supervisor, and superego, the verb tense censor meaning, to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable. Historically, artists railed against being censored -- first amendment violations etc. However, in our postmodern deconstructed age, in my view it becomes possible to celebrate the censor as a measure of creative success.

Recently one of my works ("My Secret Is Revealed") was exhibited in a group show in a business office. The painting came out of working with The Box as idea, concept, subject and material. I layered several boxes -- including a small blue one with 28 symmetrical holes -- to create a mixed media work about what we ingest - from organic cereal to medications. I learned recently that the work had been pulled from the show as an employee at the company found the work objectionable citing my usage of what they supposed was a birth control pill box. (It could be that or it could be menapausal regulator drugs or it could be a blue box with 28 symmetrical holes.)

When I was told that the work had been censored from the show, I was thrilled. I had created art that challenged and upset someone and in our postmodern world, that is a measure of art being successful. In my world, I was less of an artist for not having created something that stirred up another's point of view. My work at times was described as beautiful and -- that cuss in the art world -- decorative. I do strive for work that is visually interesting and sometimes that means it is beautiful but I also strive for work that has an impact on people. How interesting that that is done by the implication of a free, sexualized woman. I hadn't even thought of that one.

My commentary in creating the painting (which includes collaged sections of an organic cereal) was an explorations of the contrary dialogue we have about what is good for us, what we ingest, how we artifcialize our lives and bodies. I think about how dependent we are on prescription drugs, how people don't move, eat and behave the way we have for thousands of years. I think about what that is doing to our world, our planet and each other. Would we be at peace if the country's leadership ate more whole grains? Can all these medications be good for us? If wheat and rice are pounded and reshaped and enriched and labeled 'organic' does that necessarily mean it is good for us? I want the viewers to consider what it is they ingest - visually and digestively - to have the lives they have.