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Exhibition Interference Shows That Public Institutions Still Struggle with First Amendment

Posted by Nicholas O'Donnell on November 23, 2016 at 12:56 PM

Use of Confederate Flag in California Painting and Klan Imagery in Massachusetts Leads to Removal of Controversial Works

Two recent interventions by public authorities to remove controversial works of art underscore that, like last year’s Leonard Peltier painting dispute, the proper application of the First Amendment remains more elusive than it should.  In California, a state law prohibiting the display of the Confederate flag led to the removal of a specific painting from an exhibition, while north of Boston at Salem State University, a painting depicting figures in Ku Klux Klan robes was shut down entirely.  Together, these examples provide a useful of what state authorities can, and cannot do with regards to messages they find offensive.  The difference is very important.

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Topics: Ku Klux Klan, The Boston Globe, Confederate Flag, First Amendment, Leonard Peltier, Salem State University, Timothy Desmond, Civil War, Garry Harley, Fresno, State of the Union

Professional Artist Series at Danforth Art

Posted by Nicholas O'Donnell on April 1, 2015 at 2:26 PM

I'm pleased to be participating next month in the Professional Artist Series at Danforth Art in Framingham, Massachusetts. The Danforth is a wonderful museum and school that engages both the creation and exhibition of art across a broad community. It is a real treasure.

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Topics: Massachusetts, Danforth Museum School, Jessica Burko, The Boston Globe, Cate McQuaid, Professional Artist Series, Events, Copyright, Nicholas O'Donnell, Museums, Sullivan and Worcester LLP, Fair Use, Art Law Report, Framingham

Boston Globe spotlights S&W Client Mark Rappaport’s Battle for His Film Collection

Posted by Nicholas O'Donnell on April 9, 2013 at 9:34 AM

The Boston Globe addressed this week Sullivan & Worcester LLP client Mark Rappaport’s dispute with Boston University professor Ray Carney concerning the custody of Rappaport’s original film archive. My partner Kevin Colmey has represented Rappaport in this regard for over a year, and I appeared on Rappaport’s behalf at a hearing last year as well.

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Topics: Local Color, The Silver Screen/Color Me Lavender, Chain Letters, Mark Rappaport, Boston University, The Boston Globe, Casual Relations, Impostors, Collections, Rock Hudson’s Home Movies, The Scenic Route, From The Journals of Jean Seberg

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About the Blog


The Art Law Report provides timely updates and commentary on legal issues in the museum and visual arts communities. It is authored by Nicholas M. O'Donnell, partner in our Art & Museum Law Practice.

The material on this site is for general information only and is not legal advice. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage which may result from reliance on it. Always consult a qualified lawyer about a specific legal problem.

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