No matter what people think of the exhibit titled “American Portraits in a Time of War,” at the Kennebunk Free Library, the art project has done its job. It has fostered community discussion. Isn’t that the point of art, to generate dialogue? The exhibit makes people uncomfortable, this has been established, but it is also getting community members together to discuss their feelings about the art.
    Some people have said they don’t agree with uses of the American Flag, they say it is inappropriate, however the library board of trustees has voted to allow the exhibit to remain and two pieces that were previously disallowed by the library director have been approved for the exhibit.
    The library has scheduled a public forum for this evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Reading Room of the library. This is your chance to become involved in a public dialogue about the aforementioned exhibit. If you agree with the library’s decision come out and support it. If you don’t, come out and tell them why.
    The library states: “We respect and understand that there are extremely strong feelings on all sides of this issue, and we all recognized the importance of this decision. There is considerable statutory and case law that supports this decision and that formed the basis of our conclusion to permit the exhibit.  The Board trusts that our Library and our community can handle this controversial exhibit and that, ultimately, we will be better off for embracing intellectual freedom.”
    We agree and look forward to a lively discussion this evening.