"Windows on AIDS 1993"

Description of the Art Work: "Self Portrait," was one of three installations included in a project entitled "Windows on AIDS 1993" and commissioned by The Armory Center for the Arts in conjunction with recognition of the national "Day Without Art" and the World Health Organization's AIDS Awareness Day. The work, which consisted of photographs depicting segmented nude images of the human body, was placed in the Armory's front window facing onto the street.
Description of incident: After the works were installed, Armory officials began receiving complaints and requests for the work's removal from community members who objected to the nudity in "Self Portrait" and its placement in the window where the public did not have the choice of whether or not to view the work. In response to the complaints, Crystal had a meeting with the artist and several Armory staff members in which the artists explained that the images were meant to be non-sexual presentations of the human body. They subsequently decided to develop an artist's statement to accompany the piece along with public comment sheets. They also provided information to gallery attendants and interns in order to facilitate a better understanding of the intent of the work for visitors.
Results of incident: Crystal is in the process of developing a selection process for the Armory "that ensures more communication between the artists involved and the Armory staff when developing proposals for public art."

Source: Artistic Freedom Under Attack, 1994