A Brigham Young University student artist objected when half of her paintings of nudes were censored from an exhibit on campus last week.
Art department faculty members met together to look at Jean Lambert's paintings for her master's show on the morning before the show opened. Lambert said they eliminated six paintings without first notifying her."It's a nightmare. I guess I should've expected it. I had high hopes though because this was a culmination of six years of work for my final master's show," Lambert said.
Lambert said her work has been a source of conflict for the six years she's pursued her master's degree.
"I understand the concern about the paintings being shown at BYU, but I wish they would've told me sooner. A secretary called and read me the letter. They couldn't even tell me that themselves."
BYU spokesman Brent Harker said Lambert didn't give the faculty enough time to review the work because she submitted it on the Friday before the show.
"The faculty objected to the themes of violence and sexuality depicted in the paintings."
Harker also said the university has a right to choose what goes on display on campus.
"The paintings would've been considered offensive to our community. The faculty has had many talks with her about her work."
Lambert said the faculty objected to the way she portrayed females.
"I guess I resent the patriarchal society we live in. The faculty is predominantly men. They frown on intuition and emotion, which is usually what women are about," Lambert said.
Fliers stating objections to the censorship showed up the night of the show.