Artists for Clinton - California censorship sinks Clinton sculpture

[Ken [NY]]

Artists for Clinton
California censorship sinks Clinton sculpture.

By K. Lloyd Billingsley, an author and journalist in Sacramento
August 20, 2001 8:00 a.m.



ill Clinton carried California, a state that is now giving him special
protection. The California State Fair has banned the exhibition of an
award-winning sculpture about Bill Clinton and one of his employees.

The work, made entirely of recycled materials, and without any
government money, shows Bill Clinton lying in repose in a bathtub,
accompanied by Monica Lewinsky, who once toiled as an intern in the
White House. She was apparently a hard worker who performed tasks
above and below the call of duty for her boss, the 42nd President of
the United States. The sculpture, titled "Loose Lips Sink Ships," is
by Peter Langenbach, a middle-school art teacher in the Bay Area. He
entered "Loose Lips" at the Napa County Fair, in upscale wine country,
and came away with a best-in-show award. More laurels were to follow.
The California State Fair, a huge event in the capital, Sacramento,
gave the sculpture its first-place award for three-dimensional
sculptures. But then, a week before the Fair kicked off, officials
banned "Loose Lips."

Brian May, an assistant general manager, explained to reporters that
"the exhibit could be offensive to some people and inappropriate for
young children." No fewer than five representatives of the Fair ruled
"Loose Lips" unfit for exhibition, particularly because of "the
location of Monica Lewinsky to the overall position of the president."
In this, the sculptor was simply striving for verisimilitude, giving
the work educational value.

During the actual events of the recent presidency, many complained it
was difficult to explain the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal to students. Now
art imitates life. This sculpture shows how even someone with the
mindset of an 18-year-old, can become president. As for the material
being "offensive," it hardly holds a monopoly.

As the sculptor pointed out, "people were offended by the situation —
the actual event." So it makes perfect sense that a work of art based
on the event would be offensive. The State Fair itself, with its
noise, traffic, and drunks, is offensive to many people. So are songs
that win Grammy awards, and films that win Oscars.

Whenever a banning like this takes place, or anyone objects to a
publicly funded work satirizing Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary, the
chattering classes proclaim that the purpose of art is to shock us,
make us think. But had the California State Fair banned an
award-winning satirical work about Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush,
members of the "art community," would have protested the Fair for
censorship. But the Sacramento art establishment uttered not a peep
and, aside from one short news piece the media passed on the story.
The sculptor, curiously, is not pressing the case but he does have
other avenues.

Mr. Langenbach could donate his educational, award-winning work to a
museum. Or, he could apply for a grant from the National Endowment for
the Arts, and take "Loose Lips Sink Ships" on a national tour.

Ken [NY]
--
Chairperson,
Department of Redundancy Department
____________________________________

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[Harrison Numbugger]

my guess is that if Ken were to be honest he would admit that he too
would be against display of this art if it depicted anyone other then
President Clinton. The hypocrisy of conservatives is astounding.

On Tue, 21 Aug 2001 11:59:25 GMT, Ken4...@usa.NO-SPAMnet (Ken [NY])
wrote:

"The selfish spirit of commerce knows no country,
and feels no passion or principle but that of gain."
--Thomas Jefferson

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[BVallely]

<< my guess is that if Ken were to be honest he would admit that he too
would be against display of this art if it depicted anyone other then
President Clinton. The hypocrisy of conservatives is astounding. >>

Truly amazing. You "guess" that Ken would be against the idea that private
citizen should be allowed to create a piece of work insulting Republicans with
their own funds. The fact that Ken never made such a statement doesn't fits
into the equation. Embarrassed by your party's utter disregard for the first
amendment, you simply create right-wing hypocrisy out of whole cloth.

[Harrison Numbugger]

the implication was there. and you, belonging the party of 'first
amendment zones' and a leader who in reference to materials published
on a web page says 'there should be limits to our freedom' , dare have
the audacity to accuse the democrats of disregarding the 1st
amendment.

unbelievable.

you are one of the worst hypocrites to post to this forum. grow up
bvalley, look around see that your party has consistently worked to
dismantle the BOR.

[BVallely]

<< ><< my guess is that if Ken were to be honest he would admit that he too
>would be against display of this art if it depicted anyone other then
>President Clinton. The hypocrisy of conservatives is astounding. >>
>
>
>Truly amazing. You "guess" that Ken would be against the idea that private
>citizen should be allowed to create a piece of work insulting Republicans with
>their own funds. The fact that Ken never made such a statement doesn't fits
>into the equation. Embarrassed by your party's utter disregard for the first
>amendment, you simply create right-wing hypocrisy out of whole cloth.

>>>the implication was there.>>>>

No, sir, it was not. You are a liar.

>>>and you, belonging the party of 'first
amendment zones'and a leader who in reference to materials published
on a web page says 'there should be limits to our freedom' , dare have
the audacity to accuse the democrats of disregarding the 1st
amendment. >>>>

You lied.

>>>unbelievable. >>>

Yes you are. This is what happens when you lie.

>>>>you are one of the worst hypocrites to post to this forum. grow up>>>

Nailed you in a lie, huh?

>>>>bvalley, look around see that your party has consistently worked to
dismantle the BOR.>>>>>

Nailed you in a lie.

[Harrison Numbugger]

true to his conservative leaning , bvalley, unable to support his
ridiculous argument resorts to text snipping and lies.

youre a pathetic little conservative....