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Williamsport Sun-Gazette, September 21, 1991
All-Male Nude Photography Exhibit Causes Stir at College
Review by Danny Onorato
An all-male, nude photography exhibit at Lycoming College, although interesting
to some, is "unbearable" to others.
Lycoming College has received several compliants about the exhibit and
in response, it has issued a statement addressing academic freedom:
"One of the missions of Lycoming College is to keep alive the tradition
of American education which, since the founding of the modern college and
university, has been protected by the principles of academic freedom and
the rights of individuals to speak the truth as they see it."
Molly Costello, college spokesperson, elaborated, "It is just academic
freedom . . . and it goes back to First Amendment rights and freedom of
expression."
Costello, speaking as an individual separated from the college, said,
"I think (the exhibit) has artistic merits and I view it as an artistic
exhibit rather than a political statement."
Outrage Expressed
But a letter in yesterday's issue of the Sun-Gazette, submitted by Mr.
and Mrs. Russell C. Reitz, expressed outrage that the photographs are on
display.
The couple, who also sent a letter to the college, were unable to be
reached for comment, but they wrote, "Lycoming College roots are imbedded
in the Methodist Church. Better they acknowledge being affiliated with
Satan and not with the Methodist Church.
"To encourage homosexuality as acceptable behavior only adds to
the problem," the letter continues. "More students will suffer
under such a policy."
The photographs, titled "Diuturnal." were done by a New York
photographer, Joe Ziolkowski..
AIDS Crisis
"I've know Joe for a long time and he uses a very classical figure.
The lighting is very classical and the message there is he wants people
to talk about the AIDS crisis," said Dierdre Monk, a photography professor
and former teacher of Ziolkowski. "He does that from a psychological
standpoint." Ziolkowski said, in an artist's statement, that his work
is geared a lot to the heterosexual community.
"He was so surprised so many heterosexuals weren't practicing safe
sex and he thinks they need to be more aware about it," Monk observed.
Part of the exhibit has to do with the human feeling or the human spirit,
not graphic depictions of the disease, Monk said.
Some of the numbered series "is about a state of anticipation or
fear, if you will, while awaiting the results of HIV detection tests."
The work was inspired by the artist's belief that people take the AIDS
crisis lightly, she added.
Lack of Safe Sex
"While he was an educator in Illinois, he was amazed at the number
of heterosexuals not practicing safe sex," she said.
"The photographs are not about sex. They are extremely benign and
traditional, almost like Greek art," she said.
Monk said the college is lucky to have someone of his stature there.
"Historically, artists have dealt with issues, and the ones that
are remembered are the one who have dealt with things people are uncomfortable
with," she said. "If there is any problem with it in photography,
it is because people don't want to see male nudes. Traditionally, people
are used to female nudes."
Roger Shipley, an art professor, said he is aware that some people are
upset at the content of the exhibit, but he said he has heard good things,
too.
"A lot of positive (feedback) is coming from those who have seen
the show and there is negative from people who have come in a naive way,"
he said. "But the majority is positive."
Shipley said they are beautiful photographs and if people would compare
them them with some of the "trash" on television, they would be
accepted.
Photographic Images
"They are photographic images, not male nudes," he said. "A
nude male is a beautiful thing if it is done correctly and I think these
are done correctly."
Student opinion on the display seems to vary.
Michael Nicotra, a sophmore, although not entirely offended by the exhibit,
does see some fault with some of the pictures.
"I wasn't expecting anything like this," he said. "If
they (the models) are by themselves in a picture than they are art. But
"If they (the models) are by themselves in a picture then they are
art. But when there are a few of them in a picture, that just doesn't work."
"I'm not offended, I'm just uncomfortable with the ones that give
the impression of homosexuality. It's not something I want to look at,"
he continued. "Some of the pictures I think are all right, actually
some of them are pretty cool."
A female freshman student, Jen McCarthy, said she disagrees with the
subject matter.
"I wouldn't want to go, personally, and see something like that
again," she said. "I guess I'm just not used to seeing this."
She did recommend that people see the exhibit and then evaluate it.
"I would say to go see it because the photography was well done,
but I wouldn't bring my mom to see it," she said.
Pornographic?
Wayne Fisch, a senior mass-communication major, said he doesn't view
the photographs as pornography, but rather as art.
"It doesn't bother me. It's art," he said. "Look at
some of the statues the ancient Greeks have had: Are they pornographic?"
He continued, "Art is in the eye of the beholder. If you don't
like a certain art form, then you don't have to go see it.
There is also a separate display of student photographs on display in
Lycoming College's library.
"They've done real well and we'd like to show them off," said
Monk. "We are trying to get our photo program going this year."
The second half of the student show will be displayed when the next show
opens in the gallery sometime after Oct. 18.
In the student's section, there are two nude photographs of women and
no one has made any mention of them, Monk said.
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