About This Event
In 1990, the art world and the legal system collided in a Cincinnati courtroom. At the center of the "Trial of the Century" was Dennis Barrie, a museum leader who risked a jail sentence to defend the First Amendment and the right to exhibit the work of Robert Mapplethorpe.
Join us for a special screening of the Golden Globe-winning film 'Dirty Pictures' (2000), followed by an exclusive appearance and conversation with Dennis Barrie. This is a rare opportunity to hear about the trial that reshaped American culture from the person who stood his ground against charges that shocked the nation.
Program Highlights:
Feature Presentation: A screening of Dirty Pictures, starring James Woods as Dennis Barrie. The film dramatizes the intense public outcry, the police raid on the museum, and the high-stakes legal battle that followed.
A Firsthand Perspective: Following the film, Dennis Barrie will reflect on the events depicted on screen and share his unique, personal perspective on the 1990 trial.
The Legacy of the Trial: A conversation on the real-life impact of the Mapplethorpe case and its lasting influence on museum curation, censorship, and artistic expression.
Audience Q&A will follow. This is a unique chance to ask questions about a pivotal moment in American museum history.
Where It's Happening
Meet the Organizer
The Cleveland History Center (CHC) headquarters for Western Reserve Historical Society, houses exhibits that tell the story of Northeast Ohio through items, documents and artifacts from a variety of collections. Through the use of its vast and varied collections in the areas of family history, community history, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation, Cleveland History Center provides the public with a much-needed sense of place in today’s mobile society, and a base for learning about invention and ingenuity that can be transferred into modern economic expansion.
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