After all the hoopla over Rik Livingston' painting The Dream Screen being initially removed from the show at the JT Chamber of Commerce, Rik is happy to report that the Chamber did finally allow the piece to be shown and that the bigger issue surrounding it has sparked some productive dialogue, action, and even a new show to be curated in 29 Palms called The Holiday Art Censorship Show.
Rik says: "I heard a message from the Chamber on my machine asking me if I would be okay with turning the screen painting so it faced a corner and then people could walk around behind it to see the picture.
Now, naturally, I'm not crazy about this, but I felt like they had all ready compromised to some degree because there was two other small pictures I had hung with minimal nudity in them (i.e. three breasts between them) that they DIDN'T make me take down before.
I believe, strongly, that the human body is a form of art, God's creation, as it were, and there are some who have felt that I shouldn't have "given in" this way, but I would rather be a peacemaker than an ideologue. Anyway, I'm glad I did, if only for the sake of the Opening. There were many friends there and it was a very happy affair.
I had made some paper tags with mottos I made up on them like:
I’m NAKED under these clothes. GOD made the human BODY. Not Rude, Just NUDE. If you don’tlike it -QUIT LOOKING! censorship offends me. Censorship is the opposite of
Creativity
And one with a quote: “The first condition of progress is the removal of censorship.” -George Bernard Shaw
A lot of people, including George Kopp pinned them on their clothes. Rebecca Unger came by with a copy of the "Dream Screen" pinned to her shirt and was taking photos of people with "shocked" expressions on their faces. A particularly beautiful and brave friend went behind the screen and partialy disrobed to have her photo taken.
Some would consider this a victory over repression. I suppose it is, in a way, but it's pretty clear that they will just "pre-censor" works in the future. Joshua Tree already has the Visitor's Center, the Library and Crossroads Cafe to show "safe" artwork. I was really hoping this would convince them that there was a show of support for a more open and free venue for the arts. I had hoped that we could convince the Chamber that there is support for JT not to become just another Yucca Valley, but to expand on the tourist potential it has in all of the artists here. I truly believe that this would aid commerce, not hinder it.
Meanwhile, however, Steve Brown arranged it so I could show the painting in the manner I prefer: front side out!, at Tammi's Magic Mercantile in Old Town Yucca Valley. I hope to be able to arrange to do that Monday. After that, I think it's going to Gretchen Grunt's 29 Palm's Creative Center for a "Holiday Art Censorship" Show she has just planned. And tommorrow, Sunday I go on Z107.7 for Teddy Quinn's Local Music show to give a short talk about this whole crazy affair! whew!
I feel I'm an unlikely poster child for nude art, as that's not the subject matter of MOST of my art, but I'm willing to try to open a few minds and a few hearts. Wish me well!"
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