In the interest of integrity, I must correct my prior post. Mr. DeQuattro did not call his fellow artists "nazis". Sorry for the mischaracterization.

The format of the senior show is that students form their own groups of three. Generally, the groups are formed based on complimentary styles, prior working relationships, etc. Three students formed their group. Mr. DeQuattro did not do the requisite groundwork to establish a group, reserve studio time, etc. When his failure to lay the groundwork for his senior show was apparent, the faculty assigned him to a previously formed group. The 3 members of the group, through prior interactions with him, felt that he was difficult to work with, unmotivated and, (political leanings aside) did poor quality work. For all of these reasons, not because of his political message, they did not want him "on their team". The faculty has insisted that his work be exhibited, so, in fact, Pratt has guaranteed that his work will be viewed, as opposed to censoring or banning it. The students involved suggested that he simply be given his own studio time, but faculty declined. The artist most
closely involved with this is, I promise, quite apolitical - he just likes to paint. So, the resistance to Mr. DeQuattro's inclusion is just personal, between a bunch of artists with differing styles and motivation, not based on his political views, not an attempt at censorship. By cloaking his own shortcomings (again: talent, organization, interpersonal interactions - not politics) in a claim of censorship, he cheapens the efforts of those who have truly fought for freedom of expression, be it a conservative or liberal expression.

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The students' not wanting to exhibit w/ Mr. DeQuattro has nothing to do with his politics or his conservatism. They basically just find him to be abrasive and disaggreable as a person, politics aside. He has publicly stated his distaste for the art world, and called his fellow artisits "nazis". His bad attitude, not bad art or bad politics, is why they didn't ask him to be part of their show, and resisted when he was foisted upon them by faculty. The students, historically, are allowed to choose with whom they exhibit for their "Senior Show", in groups of three. He was involuntarily placed in a previously formed group. His art has not been banned. Criticized for it's quality, perhaps, but not banned or censored. His fello students don't deny his right to exhibit, they just don't want to exhibit with him. Mr. Panero should have interviewed the other artisits for a broader perspective. The journalistic portrait depicting Mr. DeQuattro as a political martyr is bad art, indeed.

The students' not wanting to exhibit w/ Mr. DeQuattro has nothing to do with his politics or his conservatism. They basically just find him to be abrasive and disaggreable as a person, politics aside. He has publicly stated his distaste for the art world, and called his fellow artisits "nazis". His bad attitude, not bad art or bad politics, is why they didn't ask him to be part of their show, and resisted when he was foisted upon them by faculty. The students, historically, are allowed to choose with whom they exhibit for their "Senior Show". His art has not been banned. They don't deny his right to exhibit, they just don't want to exhibit with him. The journalistic portrait depicting him as a political martyr is bad art, indeed.

The students' not wanting to exhibit w/ Mr. DeQuattro has nothing to do with his politics or his conservatism. They basically just find him to be abrasive and disaggreable as a person, politics aside. He has publicly stated his distaste for the art world, and called his fellow artisits "nazis". His bad attitude, not bad art or bad politics, is why they didn't ask him to be part of their show, and resisted when he was foisted upon them by faculty. The students, historically, are allowed to choose with whom they exhibit for their "Senior Show". They don't deny his right to exhibit, they just don't want to exhibit with him. The journalistic portrait depicting him as a political martyr is bad art, indeed.