Founded 1943

Responses to the question by member Robert du Nord

“IN” THE ONLINE GALLERY

Leslie Dietsch

I'm not bothered by the nude. My concern is him following instructions to enter the show. Did he need help and didn't ask or was this an intentional controversy? Not knowing how frequently this type of thing happens, it's difficult to judge. To show the image on line, could you add a screen for 'adult content only' and let the viewer determine if they want to see the painting in its entirety.

I say IN if this was just a mishap with a content filter or star like you have here.

Paul Brand

Did the juror Accept it? If so it should be shown. Michaelangelo's david sets a precredent. The club is Planning a nude figure drawing group. Also This is not a hill I would die on.

Bill Horvath

I would not display this piece at the Club. Okay to have it in the virtual show.

Joe Fisher

I say “in” with a modesty panel overlay as shown above.

Sue Van Fleet

In. If the juror accepted it into the show, there's no reason it shouldn't be featured online. Given the long history of nudes in art history and in museums — including those exhibiting "daddy parts" — I'm struggling to understand why an entity that calls itself an arts organization would even have to ask this question. It makes me wonder if there's a place at TAC for those of us who like to draw and paint the figure (although I'm REALLY grateful to Michelle Paine and the TAC for making life drawing happen. Yay!). Just my two cents. :-)

Robert du Nord

In! Nudes have been included in past exhibits at TAC.  The setting is an artist studio.  The composition is about the joy and the struggle of transforming what is seen into art.   There is no implied behavior or attitude which suggests sexual activity, despite un-selfconscious nakedness. Hard work is the sober reality of making an ambitious artwork. The artist slogs out her idea, amid the cowskull, model of skeleton, equipment, furniture and cloths. The mirror contributes a reflected view of studio space, augmenting the sense of three dimensionality. 

“NOT IN” THE ONLINE GALLERY

Ellie Miller

Not in! TAC has never left a nude up for long in a show(if it was OK'd with judge} because of high criticism from members as well as the public. Picture was taken down. I believe this particular painting is too much "in your face" and not in good taste. Also, we have many children who come into the gallery with parents. Let the museums do it. We don't need that kind of criticism or shunning from the public. Some people still care about decency. Some work may pass ,but not this one.

Elaine Scarvelis

I don’t think we have anything in our constitution addressing content in our exhibits. We really should discuss that issue. Regarding the painting in question;

TAC has always been a relatively conservative club so I don’t feel it is appropriate for our exhibit.

Mike Hill

Not in, gallery at the club is open to children and we don’t know the parks position on that type of visual art. I would like to see how the rest of the members feel about this I have run in to this before and got negative responses from them.

Bren Clixby

Have we displayed nudes before? This particular piece seems to shove it in your face, making a bold statement to get a reaction. It is not tastefully done for public viewing. FYI - the mirrored image is not in proportion to the actual image, again making a statement to get a reaction. I say no, but we need to make a statement in our application that says although we appreciate nudes, we unfortunately do not showcase them in a public display. 

NOT CLEAR ABOUT BEING SHOWN IN THE ONLINE GALLERY

Kate Arnos

My first reaction is really one of protocol: did he submit this piece according to the rules in place? If not, I think the answer is there. You were kind to add the painting of pansies from his website. 

Trisha Koelsch

.Joe,

What could be considered as "artistic " to one person, might be viewed as offensive & inappropriate to another. Local galleries with the exception of Toledo Museum of Art, have not featured (to my knowledge) "Mature Content". At this time, I believe we should err on the side of caution. Also, There might be need for approval from Toledo Botanical Gardens regarding exhibiting "Mature Content" 

No response found from:
Donlyn Meyers

John Arquette

Elaine Gregory

Comfort Ofori-Akyeah

Claudia Zacharias

Karen Hakel

Results

IN = 6

Only 4 board members replied “in.”

Note: two of the “in” responses (du Nord and Van Fleet) are from folks not on the board.

NOT IN = 4

NOT CLEAR = 2 didn’t say “in” or “not in”

16 board members opened the email.

16 board members clicked the link to see the web page.

8 board members responded using the form at the bottom of the web page.

1 board member replied to the TAC “info” account.

6 board members hadn’t responded as of 4:00 p.m. on June 4, 2023.

To be clear, the juror did not see or accept this painting into the 2023 TAC Artist's Choice Show because the intended image (and one other; the pansies) weren't provided with the application. Joe Fisher became aware of this when he produced and published the online gallery web page. Joe was able to find the pansies painting on Robert's website and did the work to get it into the online gallery. Joe did not find the painting in question and had not contacted Robert about it before Robert advised that he didn't see it in the online gallery. Robert then sent the image to Joe and Joe decided to have the board weigh in about including it in the online gallery.

Question: are the two responses that say yes to including it in the online gallery--if it was accepted by the juror--to be counted as "in" if the condition of acceptance by the juror is considered?

This report was prepared on June 5, 2023, by Joe Fisher.