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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1998)
MICHAEL CRISP/Emerald This piece of artwork does fall under the Collier House’s guidelines for artwork that Us] compatible for serving people food and as a backdrop for wedding pictures,' according to Joan MacDonald. Art: Collier has no-nudes policy ■ Continued from Page 5 says. “I wouldn’t have taken part in [the show] if I would have known about [the policy].” The paintings in question dis play the female body in various ways. “Goddess in Bird Mask #1 ” shows a woman’s naked torso; “Baba at the Beach” depicts a woman’s whole body. MacDon ald says this is enough to be ex cluded from the Collier House, given its mission. “We are not an art gallery,” she says. “The artwork that’s here has to be compatible for serving peo ple food and as a backdrop for wedding pictures. We can’t have potential customers walk in, see the art and walk out.” The no-nudes policy, in its cur rent blanket format, has been in place for about five years, she says. Similar policies have exist ed for "at least” 10 years and can extend to some political works, she says. “Our purpose is not to educate or provoke,” she says. “There’s too many sensibilities [among our customers].’’ One other figure plays a key role in the controversy. Jerry Ross is the director of New Zone, the group of community artists whose work made up the show. MacDonald says Ross, a long time exhibitor at the house, had previous knowledge of the policy and should have told the artists. “Jerry and I have worked to gether for years,” she says. “He understood we don’t do nudes.” Ross says if he was told of the policy, he doesn’t remember it. His only recollection, he says, is of a similar incident about a year ago when some photographs de picting nudity were taken down at the house. “I thought it was an isolated in u 1 think it would be nicer to be known as a cultural impresario than a censor. >> Chris Surbaugh Censored artist cident,” he says. “I never knew it was codified into an official poli cy. Otherwise, I would have warned everybody.” Surbaugh says he wouldn’t have an objection if he had been notified about the policy before the installation; however, he and Ross both say it was MacDonald’s job to make that clear. “There was no printed guide line or anything written down for us,” Surbaugh says. “She should have contacted everybody or called Jerry.” Regardless of how the policy was communicated, the contro versy brings up a larger issue. Ross and Surbaugh both think the Collier House, as part of a public university, shouldn’t judge art by such standards. MacDonald says she has a different mission. “My job at the University is to serve food and run a banquet fa cility," she says. “I show art be cause I like art and am sympathet ic to artists.” Surbaugh says he understands the Collier House’s purpose, but displaying art, even provocative art, would only enhance its mar ketability, he says. ‘‘I think it would be nicer to be known as a cultural impresario than as a censor,” he says. “The place is really a gem, but it can be better. ” MacDonald, however, stands by her duty as manager of the house — a restaurant and banquet facility, she says, and only that. “We’re not the University art museum or gallery in the EMU,” she says. “The University wouldn’t notice or care if we stopped showing art today.” MICHAEL CRISP/Emerald People gather around to discuss a piece of art at the Collier House. IKATEE — GOLF CLUB (fatj at it* Tiaut College Students -*18.00 Exp 5-30-98 1-800-452-6376 ODE Classifieds 346-4343 LIVE MUSIC No cover charge EVER! 2/20 Walker T. Ryan 2/21 Elizabeth Cable 2/24 Craig Einhorn 2/25 Eagle Park Slim 2/26 John Congdon ALL SHOWS START AT 9:30 P.M. Open mic Sundays w/John Congdon, 8:00 pm KE6STOGO!!! Including Labatts, Foster's and a large selection of other imports and micros Check out our beer of the night. Microbrews/Domestics on tap. Monday Night Pool Tourney • Sign Up 6 30, starts 7:00 Free Pool Sunday & Tuesday Evening. 2657 Willamette • 344-0816 UttXJU CHINESE RESTAURANT Mandarin anti llong Kong Cuisine Pad Thai *5* Beef Noodle Soups5,,s o/o Student Discount on regular dinner menu items with ID 343-2828 • 1525 Franklin Blvd. Free parking with purchase of a lunch order. 485-2090 for Delivery Student Dinner Special ^S95 with this coupon
