Controversial exhibit discussed (Printed Nov. 23, 2007)
By Ashley St. Michel
Staff Writer
Tensions continued to rise Friday, Nov. 16, at the Kennebunk Free Library’s open forum to discuss and debate the decision to continue showing “American Portraits in a Time of War.”
The forum was held in an effort to mediate discussions surrounding the exhibit and its artist, Gerald Bud Swenson, a Kennebunk resident since 1982. The exhibit consists of 22 collages using discarded, cut up American flag pieces to depict emotions of the American psyche after Sept. 11, 2001, according to Swenson, who adds the emotions can range from fear to despair and sometimes hope.
An exhibit of Swenson’s artwork was scheduled for November at the library. A press statement from Kate Manahan, president of the library’s board of trustees said, Janet Cate, director of the library, received a sampling of the artwork before the library agreed to show it and knew the exhibit was potentially controversial.
Cate discussed her concerns about the exhibit with the board during their October meeting, but decided to take part of the exhibit down after she received a complaint surrounding two of the collages from an unidentified citizen. Cate said the two pieces, which depict President George W. Bush wearing an awkward frown and Vice President Dick Cheney with what Swenson described as a never-ending smile, didn’t meet “normative community standards.” After Cate contacted Swenson about her decision, Swenson went to the board and asked for the pieces to be reinstated in the library. The board voted Nov. 8 to keep the exhibit in the Hank Room at the library. The forum was only an opportunity for those who had questions about why the exhibit would stand, it was not an effort to stop it.
Kenneth Kinglsey, a Vietnam veteran who served from Oct. 1967 to 1968, headed the panelists opening statements at the forum. Kingsley cited the proper ways to discard a flag.
“What I ask is, was it put here as an art display or as a protest?” Kinglsey said adding he was very angry the exhibit went up so soon after Veteran’s Day.
“What do we have in our library?” Kingsley asked. “Cut up pieces of American Flag. What respect are we showing for our veterans?”
But Kingsley was met with some opposition.
Ronald W. Schneider, a lawyer with Berstein Shur in Portland, joined the panel to provide his knowledge of law and flag code. The big question, Schneider said, is the difference between what is appropriate and what is legal. He said disobeying the flag code, which states that discarded flags or severely torn flags must be respectfully burned in a ceremony and may not be used in any other instance, is a Class E Misdemeanor crime in Maine. But Schneider said this case has more to do with personal issues than it does with flag codes.
“The real issue here is the distinction between what people have a problem with and what people don’t have a problem with,” he said, adding, “The government may not prohibit an exhibit because people find it offensive."
Schneider pointed to the window which faced the front lawn and a high flying American flag. According to those same flag codes, a flag must be taken down at sundown or be shown in spotlight. The flag flew without a hint of light, waving in the darkness. He cited flag shirts and flag-painted vehicles, all of which he said, according to the flag code, are offensive and strictly prohibited. He said anything that depicts the flag in any other way than in its original form is disrespectful.
Nelson Eubanks, member of the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the Maine Library Association, was the third member of the panel and agreed the exhibit shouldn’t be taken down simply because people don’t agree with it.
After opening comments, the three panelists answered questions the public wrote down before the forum began. The forum ended with public comments, a time when citizens could voice their opinions and comments about the exhibit, the library or Swenson.
Jim Simons, a veteran from Kennebunk, said he didn’t think it was an issue of right or wrong.
“It’s wrong for the library to show these pictures,” Simons said. “To show a picture of an American flag cut up, well the library should just say no.”
John Flagler, a Vietnam veteran serving from 1969 to 1970 and an Alfred resident, said the flag is an important symbol.
“I am more offended seeing the flag flown to sell used cars when I drive down the road,” he said. “I raised my hand and made an oath to the United States on that flag.”
Flagler voiced his support for Swenson, stating the exhibit is a highly respectable form of art that represents what veterans have fought for.
John Costin, a Kennebunk resident, said he felt the overuse of the flag in commercials and on television has shaved away at its symbolic meaning. He said when people discourage others from using these symbols to express themselves, they are only taking away someone’s personal identification with the flag.
Schneider also cited the First Amendment as a primary reason why the exhibit should stay on display.
“The constitution is the supreme law of the land,” he said. “The First Amendment protects citizens against the government. The fact that it’s an American flag is what I think has sparked interests.”
Sam Swenson, Bud Swenson’s son also attended the event, citing the library as the perfect place for an exhibit like his father’s.
“I haven’t always agreed with him, and I found the exhibit somewhat offensive myself at first, but if this isn’t the perfect place for this type of art, where is?” Sam asked.
Schneider agreed with Sam’s statement, saying the public should embrace the exhibit and continue to find ways similar to the forum to discuss and comment the pieces.
The library has started an open book style forum, where people can view the exhibit and write down how it made them feel and comment about it in the book. The book is located to the right of the entrance to the Hank Room and people are expected to sign in as they view the exhibit. The exhibit will be on display at the library until Nov. 30.
Kingsley ended his opening comments with a direct plea to Swenson to remove his exhibit.
“I’ll ask him like a gentleman, please take down your exhibit after this forum tonight,” he said.
Swenson didn’t respond to Kinglsey, but said he had received some inquiries from people interested in purchasing his work. He said he doesn’t plan to sell any pieces of the exhibit in the near future and hopes to continue showing his work at schools around the state.
“I think the forum went great,” Swenson said. “I have a great respect for veterans and what they have done for our country and I am humbled by any veteran who stands behind me.”
Staff Writer
Tensions continued to rise Friday, Nov. 16, at the Kennebunk Free Library’s open forum to discuss and debate the decision to continue showing “American Portraits in a Time of War.”
The forum was held in an effort to mediate discussions surrounding the exhibit and its artist, Gerald Bud Swenson, a Kennebunk resident since 1982. The exhibit consists of 22 collages using discarded, cut up American flag pieces to depict emotions of the American psyche after Sept. 11, 2001, according to Swenson, who adds the emotions can range from fear to despair and sometimes hope.
An exhibit of Swenson’s artwork was scheduled for November at the library. A press statement from Kate Manahan, president of the library’s board of trustees said, Janet Cate, director of the library, received a sampling of the artwork before the library agreed to show it and knew the exhibit was potentially controversial.
Cate discussed her concerns about the exhibit with the board during their October meeting, but decided to take part of the exhibit down after she received a complaint surrounding two of the collages from an unidentified citizen. Cate said the two pieces, which depict President George W. Bush wearing an awkward frown and Vice President Dick Cheney with what Swenson described as a never-ending smile, didn’t meet “normative community standards.” After Cate contacted Swenson about her decision, Swenson went to the board and asked for the pieces to be reinstated in the library. The board voted Nov. 8 to keep the exhibit in the Hank Room at the library. The forum was only an opportunity for those who had questions about why the exhibit would stand, it was not an effort to stop it.
Kenneth Kinglsey, a Vietnam veteran who served from Oct. 1967 to 1968, headed the panelists opening statements at the forum. Kingsley cited the proper ways to discard a flag.
“What I ask is, was it put here as an art display or as a protest?” Kinglsey said adding he was very angry the exhibit went up so soon after Veteran’s Day.
“What do we have in our library?” Kingsley asked. “Cut up pieces of American Flag. What respect are we showing for our veterans?”
But Kingsley was met with some opposition.
Ronald W. Schneider, a lawyer with Berstein Shur in Portland, joined the panel to provide his knowledge of law and flag code. The big question, Schneider said, is the difference between what is appropriate and what is legal. He said disobeying the flag code, which states that discarded flags or severely torn flags must be respectfully burned in a ceremony and may not be used in any other instance, is a Class E Misdemeanor crime in Maine. But Schneider said this case has more to do with personal issues than it does with flag codes.
“The real issue here is the distinction between what people have a problem with and what people don’t have a problem with,” he said, adding, “The government may not prohibit an exhibit because people find it offensive."
Schneider pointed to the window which faced the front lawn and a high flying American flag. According to those same flag codes, a flag must be taken down at sundown or be shown in spotlight. The flag flew without a hint of light, waving in the darkness. He cited flag shirts and flag-painted vehicles, all of which he said, according to the flag code, are offensive and strictly prohibited. He said anything that depicts the flag in any other way than in its original form is disrespectful.
Nelson Eubanks, member of the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the Maine Library Association, was the third member of the panel and agreed the exhibit shouldn’t be taken down simply because people don’t agree with it.
After opening comments, the three panelists answered questions the public wrote down before the forum began. The forum ended with public comments, a time when citizens could voice their opinions and comments about the exhibit, the library or Swenson.
Jim Simons, a veteran from Kennebunk, said he didn’t think it was an issue of right or wrong.
“It’s wrong for the library to show these pictures,” Simons said. “To show a picture of an American flag cut up, well the library should just say no.”
John Flagler, a Vietnam veteran serving from 1969 to 1970 and an Alfred resident, said the flag is an important symbol.
“I am more offended seeing the flag flown to sell used cars when I drive down the road,” he said. “I raised my hand and made an oath to the United States on that flag.”
Flagler voiced his support for Swenson, stating the exhibit is a highly respectable form of art that represents what veterans have fought for.
John Costin, a Kennebunk resident, said he felt the overuse of the flag in commercials and on television has shaved away at its symbolic meaning. He said when people discourage others from using these symbols to express themselves, they are only taking away someone’s personal identification with the flag.
Schneider also cited the First Amendment as a primary reason why the exhibit should stay on display.
“The constitution is the supreme law of the land,” he said. “The First Amendment protects citizens against the government. The fact that it’s an American flag is what I think has sparked interests.”
Sam Swenson, Bud Swenson’s son also attended the event, citing the library as the perfect place for an exhibit like his father’s.
“I haven’t always agreed with him, and I found the exhibit somewhat offensive myself at first, but if this isn’t the perfect place for this type of art, where is?” Sam asked.
Schneider agreed with Sam’s statement, saying the public should embrace the exhibit and continue to find ways similar to the forum to discuss and comment the pieces.
The library has started an open book style forum, where people can view the exhibit and write down how it made them feel and comment about it in the book. The book is located to the right of the entrance to the Hank Room and people are expected to sign in as they view the exhibit. The exhibit will be on display at the library until Nov. 30.
Kingsley ended his opening comments with a direct plea to Swenson to remove his exhibit.
“I’ll ask him like a gentleman, please take down your exhibit after this forum tonight,” he said.
Swenson didn’t respond to Kinglsey, but said he had received some inquiries from people interested in purchasing his work. He said he doesn’t plan to sell any pieces of the exhibit in the near future and hopes to continue showing his work at schools around the state.
“I think the forum went great,” Swenson said. “I have a great respect for veterans and what they have done for our country and I am humbled by any veteran who stands behind me.”
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