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Banned & Recovered: Artists Intervention

  • Description
  • Specs
  • Schedule

Description

Banned & Recovered: Artists Intervention is a collective response by 37 artists to the conspicuous success of book challenges and bannings in U.S. schools and libraries and the real threats to the U.S. Constitution posed by the 2003 U.S. Patriot Act.

Artists created new works of art inspired by titles from the long list of banned and challenged books. The result is a spectacular collection of witty, whimsical, angry, and thought-provoking statements about the ramifications of censorship and the importance of free speech. Together, the works shed new light on problematic issues and engage visitors in a lively dialog about the power of art in the face of censorship.

“Stitches in Time,” Milton Bowens. Referenced work: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
“Where Does the End of Me Become the Start of You?,” Favianna Rodriguez, 2008. Referenced work: The Color Purple, by Alice Walker. Medium
“Patriot or Traitor?,” Mary V. Marsh. Referenced work: USA Patriot Act

The exhibition is divided into four themes: Banning Books and the First Amendment at Crossfires; Books on Trial; Race, Gender and Justice; and Burning Books: the Extreme Ban. It includes original book art, mixed media, paintings, photographs, and multi-media pieces.

Banned & Recovered: Artists Intervention was generously funded by The James Irvine Foundation and inspired by the exhibition Banned & Recovered: Artists Respond to Censorship that was on display at the San Francisco Center for the Book and the African American Museum and Library in Oakland in 2008.

Specs

Audience:
Adults, Teens
Rental Fee:
RETIRED
Size:
1,500-2,000 square feet
Security:
High

Exhibit Components:

  • 37 original artworks with labels
  • Introductory and theme text panels
  • Cell phone audio tour with artists and the curator
  • Interactive website
  • Exhibition catalog available from LuLu.com
  • Exhibition press kit with digital images

Schedule and Availability

Past Dates

September 23, 2010 – November 6, 2010
Humboldt State University Art Gallery, Arcata
January 10, 2011 – March 11, 2011
UC Merced Kolligian Library, Merced
July 15, 2012 – October 6, 2012
The National Steinbeck Center, Salinas in partnership with the Monterey County Library

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