C E N S O R E D !
This print was taken down by the owners of Gizmo Pictures today. If you care about free speech especially when it involves
criticism of those in power, please call and or visit Gizmo Pictures (upstairs above the Blue Planet) and let
them know how you feel. Below is the text of the email I received from, Gizmo
co-owner, Greg Ready informing me that the piece was to be censored.
"Dave,
This is Greg Ready. I'm not sure if we have met or not, but
I am part owner of Gizmo Pictures and the Thacher building where your artwork
is being displayed in the Blue Planet Cafe. We have chosen to take down the
picture of Sam Brownback burning out of respect to his daughter Liz, who works
for us. This decision has nothing to do with politics or our belief in your
freedom of speech through art. Liz is a valued employee and friend to us and I
(we) felt strongly against subjecting her to having to look at a picture of her
father burning at her place of employment. It should also be noted that this
decision was made by me, with the backing of my business partner Jeff, and not
at the request of Liz.
I hope you will understand. If you wish to discuss this
further, feel free to call either phone number listed below, e-mail or drop by
my office at Gizmo (upstairs from the Blue Planet).
Thanks."
Contact the owners here:
Jeff Carson and Greg Ready, owners of Gizmo Productions
785-267-7878
greg@gizmopictures.com
jeff@gizmopictures.com
110 SE 8th Avenue, Topeka, KS
Read articles about this story at these links below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/kansas-artist-dave-loewen_n_1940225.html
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/oct/04/lawrence-artist-miffed-after-topeka-restaurant-tak/
http://cjonline.com/news/2012-10-03/artist-miffed-censorship-brownback-print
Read articles about this story at these links below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/kansas-artist-dave-loewen_n_1940225.html
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/oct/04/lawrence-artist-miffed-after-topeka-restaurant-tak/
http://cjonline.com/news/2012-10-03/artist-miffed-censorship-brownback-print
3 comments:
I believe privately owned businesses can choose what they display as art on their walls. This isn't about free speech at all.
Now, if you want to take a painting, hoist it on a sign and parade it on a public sidewalk, that's free speech.
Apparently other paintings by Lowenstein are not considered verboten in the same place.
Did the employee's vote on this censorship? Did it offend patrons? Since according to the Caital Journal article and the owner's written statement, the governor's daughter did not request the paintings removal, who was the offended party?
I find it ironic that if Liz was had health insurance from Blue Planet and wanted birth control medications, or an abortion, the governor is on record stating, "go someplace else."
Maybe Liz Brownback and her brown nosing employers should consider offering health insurance to ensure reproductive health for women. Fat chance!
Come on Radio Free Kansas and let's talk Dave! Lulz and cheers!
I called the Gizmo phone number during a Radio Free Kansas "Saturday High Noon" broadcast. They must not be working, nobody answered, but I did leave a couple messages to get back.
I have recently included your banned painting on a post about voter suppression in Wichita. Somehow it is related, along with the political attacks on a healthy school lunch program, destroying abortion doctors and silencing outspoken intellectuals ... what I call the Kansas livestock mentality of New Brownbackistan.
Here's the link: http://fightincockflyer.blogspot.com/2012/10/sedgwick-county-dmv-threatens-voter.html
Again, Cheers, Dave!
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