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Graphic photography deemed wrong fit
for coffeehouse.
A few weeks ago, local artist Erin Jennings
discovered that the coffee that goes so well with
cream and sugar may not be a match for her artwork.
Jennings submitted samples of her work
to be displayed at Republic Coffee on Madison through
May 6th. Her 90-piece show, "Photo Exhibit A,"
included four series of landscapes and photography.
Problems began when 40 of her graphically realistic
crime-scene photos were mounted on the coffeehouse
walls.
"I put my work up on Wednesday,
and on Thursday, the manager disapproved of it and
had half of it pulled down," said Jennings. "On
Friday, he called my business partner to come and
remove the rest of it."
Republic manager Chris Conner asked
Jennings to remove the work from the business he describes
as a "family-friendly environment." Republic
charges no commission on artists' work but does require
a sample portfolio before a complete exhibit is installed.
Although Jennings presented six pieces to him for
approval, Conner said the images of mutilated bodies,
slit throats, and illegal drug use depicted in the
remaining photos was never shown to him.
"The main issue is that the pictures
she showed us were not even close to what was put
on the walls," said Conner. "We're a private
facility and not a publicly owned place, so the owner
reserves the right to approve or disapprove any work."
According to Jennings, she spent about
$1,500 in art supplies and 80 work hours in preparation
for the Republic show.
"It may have been the wrong photography
for the art space, and that's either my fault or the
fault of Republic," said Jennings. "I just
wish [Conner] had paid more attention before the show
went up than after."
In a similar case, a Memphis College
of Art student was allowed to reinstall her work last
week after school officials objected to the art and
forced her to remove it. Seven other students also
participating in the show removed their work in protest.
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