public art network: When is Censorship Appropriate

Americans for the Arts' Public Art Network (PAN) is the only professional network in the United States dedicated to the field of public art. As a program of Americans for the Arts, PAN strengthens efforts to advocate for policies and best practices that serve communities creating public art. More than 350 public art programs exist in the United States at the federal, state, and local level. The PAN network brings together artists, community members, and art and design professionals through online resources, professional development and education opportunities, knowledge-sharing practices, and strategic partnerships.

Jun 27, 2011

When is Censorship Appropriate

In a somewhat surprising move, San Francisco police have taken it upon themselves to remove tiles from student murals that were developed in collaboration with a teacher who has recently been accused of owning child pornography. There have been no complaints about the murals, which have been installed for several years, nor was it clear that the images were in fact pornographic.

The issue raises interesting questions about censorship and who decides what constitutes pornography, as well as begging the question of private versus public behavior. The unilateral mutilation of the murals by the police will no doubt raise questions beyond those of public decency...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/24/state/n162111D60.DTL