Sculpture Removed at 4-H Art Fair in MN
- Artist/Author/Producer: Jacob Roth
- Confronting Bodies: Freeborn County Fair board officials
- Dates of action: August 1992
- Location: Freeborn County, Minnesota
- Description of the Art Work
- The sculpture, "Pro-choice," consisted of a robed female mannequin nailed
to a cross. Scales of justice and a sign saying "Women's Rights" were
affixed to the structure.
- Description of incident
- In August 1992, Jacob Roth, then 18 years old, installed a sculpture
called "Pro-choice" as part of the fair's 4-H art exhibit. Fair board
officials called Roth's artwork "gross" and "inappropriate," and ordered
it removed. Roth then contacted the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union.
After fair official refused to negotiate, the MCLU, with the Arts
Censorship Project, sued the fair board, alleging violations of Roth's
right of free speech under the First Amendment.
- Results of incident
- Roth received a $15,000 settlement from board officials for the
censorship of his sculpture.
Source: "ACLU Arts Censorship Project Newsletter", Winter 1994
