Artists claim poster rule is censorship

The Shad Festival poster auction organizers are asking that artists don’t use their works of art as a "forum for political expression."

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — Some artists in the region are outraged over a development they see as censorship in the Shad Fest poster auction.
   This year, for the first time, the back of the poster board says, "We ask artists not to use the poster auction as a political forum of political expression. Our purpose is to promote art and fund the next generation of artists through the proceeds raised. We reserve the right of exclusion."
   The warning to avoid political expression came about after one poster last year caused a stir, according to Tom Martin, president of the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the festival. The chamber received several complaints, at least one of them written, about a poster that contained likenesses of both Saddam Hussein and George W. Bush, Mr. Martin said.
   "There may have been more" written complaints, and others were verbal, Mr. Martin said.
   Mr. Martin said he was not aware artists were upset this year.
   "Nobody called and complained," he said. "Nobody said anything to me."
   He added he was not aware until this week that the notice had been printed on the posters.
   If he had known, "I probably would have done it differently," he said. "I can honestly say I might feel the same way" as the artists.
   He added, "It is not our intent to stifle artistic expression but to get cooperation to raise as much money as possible for the good cause it is supposed to be for."
   The chamber didn’t think the request would cause such a flap. On the contrary, Mr. Martin said, the inclusion of the warning to artists was meant to help the festival avoid future problems.
   Some artists, however, aren’t viewing the newest development in quite the same light.
   "Artists are fuming about it," said Merle Citron, a Lambertville artist, who has donated posters to the auction previsouly. "It has a few people up in arms."
   Ms. Citron is a former columnist for The Beacon.
   Annelies van Dommelen is another Lambertville artist who has participated for years in the poster auction, which raises scholarship money to enable local high school students to pursue an education in the arts. Some years, she said, she submits more than one poster for auction.
   This year, though, Ms. van Dommelen isn’t sure she’ll even participate because of what she sees as censorship of the artists. Or, she said, she’s thinking about taking part in a plan some artists are hatching to submit posters of nothing but their political expressions as a protest of the new rule.
   "It depends on how this goes," she said. "I have to think about it."
   She said she is torn between wanting to contribute to a good cause, yet bristles at the censorship.
   Ms. van Dommelen said her artwork is not usually political. But this time, it might have to be.
   "I’m not a marcher, but I’ve got to stand up for the freedom of speech," she said.
   She said she finds the newest development in the poster auction "distasteful."
   Mr. Martin said, "The chamber discussed it and decided the intent wasn’t to censor artists."
   Rather, the intent of the wording was to forward the poster event as a fund-raiser for scholarship money.
   "The intent was not to censor," Mr. Martin said. "I remember vividly saying we couldn’t be censoring artists’ work."
   He explained, "If it is offensive or blatant or provocative, that is something that we don’t want in that setting, to avoid more criticism."
   He continued, "Most people go to buy a poster and donate money to a good cause, not to get offended."
   Artists are wondering, who gets to decide what is offensive or too political? Mr. Martin said the decision will be left to the chamber’s board.
   According to the chamber, the poster auctions to date have raised more than $220,000 to help aspiring artists pursue careers in the arts.
   The Shad Festival will be held the weekend of May 21 and 22. The poster auction is slated for May 22 at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on North Union Street.
   Blank posters are available at The Sojourner, 26 Bridge St., 397-8849; Riverrun Gallery at the Laceworks, 397-3349; and The Coryell Gallery, 8 ½ Coryell St., 397-0804. The poster deadline is Monday.
   For more information, call the office at 397-SHAD or send an e-mail to [email protected].