Decency Clause

Dear Frank,

The panel was a lively discussion about censorship and self-censorship! Afterward at dinner I sat next to Bill Ivey, Chair of the NEA from 1998-2001. He nixed several grants, “In order to preserve the agency.” Maybe at the time this was the right decision.

How is your health? I hope you are OK.

All best wishes,

Martha

Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc.

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well, that's the common rationale that most censors use in his position... And it's also the rationale that most use who sign loyalty Oaths [the "decency clause" is really a loyalty oath to the established order]. Such rationale allows censorship a mask

of reasonable airs which allow censorship and loyalty Oaths to take hold. The price is too high! Artists should be unreasonable, refusing to be the lap-dogs/pussies of the established order. The NEA was destroyed for individual subversive artists like me. When I got my NEA, it was based upon my past work. I could use the money anyway I want. If I had to hand over the control of the art to the NEA /government, I couldn't /wouldn't do that. So I find other ways to do the work. After all, ain't that a part of the artist's job?!

In Freedom,
Frank Moore

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Dear Frank,

Well put!

Hope you’re well.

XOXO Martha

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I try, Martha!

In Freedom,
Frank Moore