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Art Exhibit Tackles Issue of Censorship
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Senior Fiamma Giger stands in front of her piece "Camouflage," which has inspired an art exhibit on censorship.
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A University of San Francisco student who says her work was censored at the state Capitol building has inspired an art exhibit that focuses on the themes of censorship and free speech.
The exhibit, located at the Faithful Fools Street Ministry in San Francisco, features the work of about two dozen USF students. The students used a variety of media, including sculpture, drawing, collage, and painting, to represent their thoughts. The students are part of two "Artist as Citizen" classes and spend most of their time working in the community on service-learning projects, but come together to create an art project.
"This year we weren't really sure what the issue was going to be, but then it presented itself when Fiamma came and told us that her work had been censored," said Sharon Siskin, assistant professor of visual arts.
Earlier this year, senior Fiamma Giger learned that a piece she submitted to a statewide student art show at the state Capitol would not be hung. The piece, "Camouflage," is a life-size drawing of herself dressed in the fatigues of a friend in ROTC. Surrounding the self-portrait are notes shared between her and the friend that represent a questioning of the military and Giger's gradual understanding of her friend's situation.
Siskin said she was initially told that Giger's piece would not be hung because it contained language inappropriate for the Capitol, including references to piercings. Giger could not remember any such language, but offered to cover any words that might be objectionable. She said her offer was rejected, despite another student artist covering questionable language in a piece that was displayed at the show, which was organized by the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
Siskin, Giger, and others believe the work was censored not because of its language but because of its anti-war message.
"You never know because they're not going to come out and say it," Giger said.
Robert Oakes, AICCU's vice president of external relations, said that when schools are invited to submit student works, the organization makes it clear that all art submitted must be acceptable for all ages, including children, because of the public nature of the Capitol. He said Giger's piece was not hung because it was not provided in a "hang-ready" fashion and because the notes were of an adult nature, including discussions of nipple piercings and sex.
"In fact, there were pieces hung in the Capitol that dealt with the subject of war," Oakes said. "One was a composite of over 100 pictures of soldiers in Iraq that was far more anti-war in content and message than was Ms. Giger's piece."
Giger's piece is currently on display at the Thacher Gallery and recently won the Mary Thacher Prize, which honors the best work in technique and style in the annual Thacher Student Showcase. It was also part of the exhibit at Faithful Fools for the exhibit's opening, which featured a panel on censorship.
Siskin said the exhibit's censorship theme and the accompanying class discussions gave students a chance to talk about their own experiences.
"I think it was a great opportunity for self-expression," Siskin said. "A great opportunity to really push the envelope, try something new, and explore an issue they might not have explored in their artwork before."
The Faithful Fools exhibit runs through May 18. 
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