Last night before photographer Roe Ethridge’s FotoFocus Lecture at Cincinnati Art Museum, FotoFocus’ Artistic Director Kevin Moore announced the organization is co-presenting a two-day symposium on photographer Robert Mapplethorpe’s work with the Contemporary Arts Center on Oct. 23-24.
It will mark the 25th anniversary of CAC’s presentation of The Perfect Moment, the retrospective of Mapplethorpe’s work that prompted conservative elements — led by then-Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. — to pursue criminal charges for alleged obscenity. (Some of Maplethorpe’s work in the show was sexually graphic.) A Hamilton County jury cleared the museum of all charges.
Specifics for the symposium have yet to be announced, although indications are speakers from around the country will be invited. Also not yet announced is what, if any, works by Mapplethorpe will be shown and in what context.
Information should go on on the FotoFocus site when firm.
This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2015.