Hartford: Gay Rights Public Art Blocked by Lamar Outdoor Advertising

via Visual AIDS >blog 11/15/06:

via Artnet News 11/15/06 :

GAY RIGHTS ART BLOCKED
The Hartford-based multidisciplinary art space Real Art Ways has run into a little trouble on the way to opening "Poza," its exhibition of works by 31 contemporary Polish artists. Artist Karolina Bregula proposed putting her photographs of same-sex couples holding hands on billboards in Hartford and New Britain, but the plan was rejected by the company that operates the ad space, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, which had initially agreed to the project.

Lamar has justified its decision by stating that the company is afraid vandalism would mar the public project. In a press statement, Real Ways director Will K. Wilkins responds, arguing, "[t]o make a decision like this based on the anticipated actions of bigots does a real disservice to the gay and lesbian community and the broader community as well." In protest, Real Ways has withdrawn two other text-only pieces that were to run on billboards as part of the "Poza" show. For more about the controversy and the exhibition, see: http://www.realartways.org/press/releases/2006/2006_10_27_billboards.html

elsewhere (via INNEWSWEEKLY ):

Same-sex couple photos censored in ad for art show
HARTFORD (William Henderson) - Lamar Outdoor Advertising of Hartford last week declined to erect three billboards that advertised the art show "POZA: Art and Performance" at Real Art Ways in Hartford because the ads contained photographs of same-sex couples holding hands.

"We are very disturbed that this artwork, which features same-sex couples merely holding hands, was deemed too 'controversial' by Lamar Outdoor Advertising of Hartford to be displayed on billboards in the Hartford area," said Brian Friedberg, Real Art Ways communications coordinator. "[This is] an act of discrimination against both the gay community and artistic expression."

Steve Herbert, vice president and general manager of Lamar, did not return phone calls by the In Newsweekly press deadline, but did tell the Hartford Courant that it was the company's right to refuse the billboards "because we believed it was a sensitive issue that could cause controversy in some community groups."

"Poza" features 31 artists with direct or indirect ties to Poland.

"The Polish word 'poza' has a double meaning," said the show's curator Marek Bartelik, "'posturing' or 'posing' - as one disguises his or her true nature for public display - and 'beyond' or 'trans.'"

The use of same-sex couples in the advertisements was in line with the exhibition's content and not as a way of courting controversy.

UPDATE 11/16 via Edward_Winkleman:

this is not the first time Lamar has rejected pro-gay messages. Last year in Georgia, they censored one too:

Billboard company Lamar Advertising has rejected a series of ads from Georgia Equality, an LGBT rights group, that were scheduled to appear this fall in rural parts of the state.

The campaign, called "We Are Your Neighbors," features gay men and lesbians in various professions. A gay firefighter, for example, is captioned "I protect you, and I am gay. We are your neighbors." A lesbian doctor is similarly titled "I care for you, and I am a lesbian."

I'm not big on blogosphere vigilantism normally, but if you felt the need to express your opinions on this directly to the folks at Lamar's corporate headquarters, you'll find their contact information here. And to share your thoughts with the folks most directly responsible for this recent decision, you might find this helpful:

Lamar Advertising of Hartford
Dan Giordano
dgiordano@lamar.com
32 Midland Street
Windsor, CT 06095-4334
P:800-822-7722
F:860-522-2352

      posted by Edward_ at 8:33 AM

via Artnet News 11/15/06 :

GAY RIGHTS ART BLOCKED
The Hartford-based multidisciplinary art space Real Art Ways has run into a little trouble on the way to opening "Poza," its exhibition of works by 31 contemporary Polish artists. Artist Karolina Bregula proposed putting her photographs of same-sex couples holding hands on billboards in Hartford and New Britain, but the plan was rejected by the company that operates the ad space, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, which had initially agreed to the project.

Lamar has justified its decision by stating that the company is afraid vandalism would mar the public project. In a press statement, Real Ways director Will K. Wilkins responds, arguing, "[t]o make a decision like this based on the anticipated actions of bigots does a real disservice to the gay and lesbian community and the broader community as well." In protest, Real Ways has withdrawn two other text-only pieces that were to run on billboards as part of the "Poza" show. For more about the controversy and the exhibition, see: http://www.realartways.org/press/releases/2006/2006_10_27_billboards.html

elsewhere (via INNEWSWEEKLY ):

Same-sex couple photos censored in ad for art show
HARTFORD (William Henderson) - Lamar Outdoor Advertising of Hartford last week declined to erect three billboards that advertised the art show "POZA: Art and Performance" at Real Art Ways in Hartford because the ads contained photographs of same-sex couples holding hands.

"We are very disturbed that this artwork, which features same-sex couples merely holding hands, was deemed too 'controversial' by Lamar Outdoor Advertising of Hartford to be displayed on billboards in the Hartford area," said Brian Friedberg, Real Art Ways communications coordinator. "[This is] an act of discrimination against both the gay community and artistic expression."

Steve Herbert, vice president and general manager of Lamar, did not return phone calls by the In Newsweekly press deadline, but did tell the Hartford Courant that it was the company's right to refuse the billboards "because we believed it was a sensitive issue that could cause controversy in some community groups."

"Poza" features 31 artists with direct or indirect ties to Poland.

"The Polish word 'poza' has a double meaning," said the show's curator Marek Bartelik, "'posturing' or 'posing' - as one disguises his or her true nature for public display - and 'beyond' or 'trans.'"

The use of same-sex couples in the advertisements was in line with the exhibition's content and not as a way of courting controversy.

UPDATE 11/16 via Edward_Winkleman:

this is not the first time Lamar has rejected pro-gay messages. Last year in Georgia, they censored one too:

Billboard company Lamar Advertising has rejected a series of ads from Georgia Equality, an LGBT rights group, that were scheduled to appear this fall in rural parts of the state.

The campaign, called "We Are Your Neighbors," features gay men and lesbians in various professions. A gay firefighter, for example, is captioned "I protect you, and I am gay. We are your neighbors." A lesbian doctor is similarly titled "I care for you, and I am a lesbian."

I'm not big on blogosphere vigilantism normally, but if you felt the need to express your opinions on this directly to the folks at Lamar's corporate headquarters, you'll find their contact information here. And to share your thoughts with the folks most directly responsible for this recent decision, you might find this helpful:

Lamar Advertising of Hartford
Dan Giordano
dgiordano@lamar.com
32 Midland Street
Windsor, CT 06095-4334
P:800-822-7722
F:860-522-2352

      posted by Edward_ at 8:33 AM