The University of Southern Maine has removed three works by a highly regarded oil painter from a gallery on its Lewiston-Auburn campus after learning that the artist is a sex offender, a decision that has prompted objections from the show’s curator and the Union of Maine Visual Artists. Full Article
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Sex offender’s artwork pulled from USM show at Lewiston-Auburn gallery
Arts pieces by Pelican Bay inmates on display at courthouse [triplicate.com 4/25/17 – non-sex-offender art displayed]
So we can’t have out art exhibits shown in public, either? Whoever decided this can Van Gogh to hell [shiitakeweekly.blogspot.com 5/7/18]
I feel it my duty as a human being to contact these people that do such rediculious things and point out to them that they are not so pure as to judge others. Though I try not to sound biblical or “preachy”.
I often will get responses to my emails, which tells me that I have hopefully planted a seed that will take root.
Ample proof to support Colorado Judge Matsch’s judgement that the registry is cruel and unusual punishment enforced by the public.
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I attended USM in 2010 as a student completing my degree. In 2008 I was convicted of the misdemeanor offense of statutory rape based on the allegation that I had sex with a boy who was 6 weeks from the age of consent. I served 7 weeks in county jail and required to register in Maine for 10 years. The Dean of USM required me to meet with him, several campus officials, and there were also police in uniform present for the meeting to determine whether I would be allowed to continue to live on campus at the dorms in Gorham, Maine. Their attorney asked me several humiliating and explicit questions about my sexual behavior and private (and legal) sexual history. They made a big deal about the fact that there were young male children (K-8) staying in the dorms during the Summer semester I was there. They forced me to enter into a contract with the university which described all the things I could and could not do. Basically it said I could not use any campus facilities, could not leave my dorm except to go directly to my car to go to and from campus, and I was not even allowed to leave my room to go to other parts of the building. They allowed me to stay but after some time of living in this almost impossible situation, I decided to get an apartment in Portland and my professors let me complete my Bachelor of Biology degree online. My professors were aware of the situation and thought it was all ridiculous. I brought a suit against the UMaine system in 2013 but it was dismissed because municipal entities are automatically immune from lawsuit in Maine. The UMaine system is operating in an archaic fashion primarily based on fears surrounding past allegations of frat house rapes. The removal of these paintings is petty. I hope the artist sees this as an opportunity to use his art to communicate the injustices against him.
Meanwhile, prisoners at places like Pelican Bay State Prison, california WORST and TOUGHEST prison for the most hardened criminals are freely able to display their artwork at the local courthouse:
http://www.triplicate.com/features/5256399-151/arts-pieces-by-pelican-bay-inmates-on-display.
The comments following the related article https://www.pressherald.com/2018/05/06/sex-offenders-artwork-pulled-from-usm-show-at-lewiston-auburn-gallery/ are interesting. One commenter is trying to make the case that once a sex offender, always a sex offender. “He IS a convicted sex offender. Present tense.” He is also pushing the high recidivism lie. “As for criminal justice as a whole I absolutely believe in rehabilitation and reintegration. It has to be done with public safety as priority number one. Unfortunately recidivism rates are high particularly with certain types of criminals.” The implication seems to be that “sex offenders” shouldn’t be allowed the same opportunities for reintegration as other offenders.
I’m wondering how many other artists would disappear from our art museums and historical centers if we undertook the work to uncover all past allegations against prominent artists. Certainly Oscar Wilde’s work would all have to be removed. Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Benvenuto Cellini and Giovanni Antonio Bazzi – all of their artwork stripped from the walls, from literature, from history. And what cultural standards should be used for such censorship? The US is one of only a small handful of nations that even have a registry, meaning only American artists will be censored, despite the fact that many other nations have very different definitions of sexual assault. Is there any standard or process, any appeal rights, or is this entirely subject to arbitrary individual whim and bias? Ironically the art itself is the least abstract matter here.
This is nothing but pure and unadulterated spite-work.
I’m flabbergasted. Was the art itself sexually offensive? Was the artist hanging around and luring people into sexual situations? I mean really? I might accidentally appreciate some art that was created by someone with a sordid past? Isn’t that expected?
Can sex offenders donate blood? How can we assure an offender’s blood doesn’t end up in a CHILD?
Can sex offenders donate their bodies after death? OMG, those EYES might have viewed CP in the former body!
Are sex offenders allowed to buy shoes? My god, you know about foot fetishes!
Is a sex offender allowed to lick the stamp on the letter he sends to his probation officer? They should be required to USE SPONGES.
Are sex offenders allowed to shower? Don’t they do that NUDE?? They shouldn’t be allowed to be nude EVER!
If a sex offender came to an unconscious car crash victim, are they allowed to perform CPR????
Are sex offenders allowed to BUY GROCERIES??? There might be CHILDREN in the store!! They shouldn’t be allowed to live 2500′ near a grocery store because children often eat food.
Can a sex offender tell someone to “have a nice day”?
Are they able to play the lotto?
Can they look at the sky and ponder life’s mysteries?