Artist says Algonquin censored his painting

Algonquin last month was named an Art Friendly Community by the Illinois Municipal League and the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation.

A participant in this year's Public Art Display Program disagrees.

Champaign artist Brian Sullivan says the village censored his painting "Rocket Patrol," which was slated to be displayed at the Algonquin Area Public Library.

Sullivan's 8-foot by 10-foot creation combines elements from Salvador Dali's surrealism, a Tom and Jerry cartoon and a Buck Rogers movie.

The work also depicts a woman who appears, at first glance, to be bare-chested.

Library officials say their decision not to hang the painting was multifaceted.

Louise Nees, assistant administrative librarian, says, "First of all, the painting's huge." Weighing more than 50 pounds, "it would overpower the wall."

Also, as the work would be placed in the teen area on the library's first floor, Nees says, "it probably isn't the best image for kids to be seeing."

"Rocket Patrol" was replaced with one of Sullivan's smaller pieces, "Uncle Sam," a 5-foot by 4-foot black-and-white piece which, incidentally, features a rear view of Salvador Dali's nude wife.

Sullivan submitted five paintings for consideration in the program.

"All the others (besides "Rocket Patrol") were really safe," he says. "Of all the things they could have chosen, they chose the most controversial piece."

"Rocket Patrol" was initially approved by the public arts commission but then was vetoed by library officials.

"The village actually sent me a letter confirming 'Rocket Patrol' was the piece they wanted to hang in the library," he says.

However, when Sullivan called village planner Ben Mason to confirm his attendance for the Oct. 26 program unveiling, he was told the piece would not be used.

"Mason told me that the library directors didn't think the piece would work for them," Sullivan says.

According to Jeff Mihelich, assistant village manager, the host of each piece of the program's artwork has the final say on accepting or rejecting a work.

"The village staff and the arts commission pick out the pictures we think are fun and enriching," Mihelich, says. "But the host of that piece of art always have to decide if that's the piece they want."

Meanwhile, Sullivan says he has been invited to give a solo exhibition at the University of Illinois Union Gallery this May. The show, titled "Censored Art" will feature "all of the works that somebody found objectionable."