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