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Facebook vs. Motherhood

10/10/2011

20 Comments

 
So, I was conducting a contest on my facebook fan page using the following portrait and text:  
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PRIZE GIVEAWAY!!!!!
Win a beautiful giclee print of the portrait you see here! 
Here is all you have to do to win!
1. Like my Page on Facebook
2. Like the Photo of the Portrait you see here
3. Share this contest on your page to receive a 2nd entry!

I will randomly choose a winner from either Canada or the USA to win a giclee print worth $150.00!

Saturday morning when I woke up I found a big warning on my facebook page, which informed me that the photograph of this painting had been removed for violating Facebook standards.  So basically my entire contest was spoiled and I had lost all the names of those people who shared my artwork.  This is nothing new, believe me.  I've had this painting and several other artworks removed repeatedly from Facebook, been given countless warnings and even had my account deleted at one point, because my work was deemed obscene.  I'm not alone in this.  Right after I discovered the photo had been deleted I got a message from Amy Swagman of the Mandala Journey who had had this photo of her artwork removed:
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For violating facebook's terms of use.  Frankly I am sick of it.  I'm sick of being treated like a criminal, a pornographer or something, when all I am doing is sharing my artwork.  I don't want to feel I have to hide my work when I am proud of it.  

Another piece which was removed recently is this small portrait commission I did:
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Believe it or not I did not actually think twice about posting it.  I was proud of it, and very excited to share.  It wasn't until someone suggested I was pushing the envelope a bit that I realized I might possibly lose my account again for once again posting a nude woman, nipples uncovered.  Indeed- I received another warning and the image was deleted the next morning.

So, why don't we learn?  Why doesn't Amy Swagman and Kate Hansen just stop posting nude artwork?  Well... because we shouldn't have to.  You may believe that Facebook's standards of use are applied fairly to everyone, but I argue that they are not.  I've always refused to draw attention to other artists I know online who post nudes, because I do not wish their art to be removed, and I do not want them picked on or singled out.  I do not in any way wish people to report other artists who post nude artwork.  I have however decided to share an image from a gallery I am fond of- EVOKE Contemporary Gallery out of Sante Fe New Mexico.  EVOKE gallery was hosting a beautiful figurative show called "Decadence," August 5th of 2011, and had posted some of the work on it's facebook page.  I want to stress that in no way do I wish anyone to report this work.  I love it, I love figurative art and I wish all figurative art had a home on facebook.  I do not understand, however, why my work and Amy's work is removed repeatedly and why we are harassed when there is plenty of other nude artwork on facebook that does not receive the same treatment.  Here is an example of a painting from the EVOKE page: 
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Christopher Rote- Armageddon, oil on canvas, 54 x 52


The difference is clear.  This beautiful painting depicts a woman with guns, while ours depict women with babies/pregnancy.  Violence is clearly acceptable while birth, breastfeeding and pregnancy are not.

20 Comments
CanNurse
10/10/2011 08:39:06 am

Kate - SO glad you wrote this. I cannot believe FB is doing this AGAIN?! Who ARE the peurile adolescent boys that run the thing?! Friends & I keep continuously reporting violence against women pages that pop up & FB rarely removes them! Don't give up. I'm sharing your blog, everyone loves your paintings, & you have tens of thousands of women behind you! (Ps - Disappointing about the contest as well! I was entered, & of course many others!)

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Alisha Vernon link
10/10/2011 09:19:09 am

This is completely frustrating. I've haven't had anything removed yet, but I submitted an ad to Facebook, and was totally shocked when they denied it because it was a violation. I felt like I was being accused of selling porn! It was a very smaller square cropping of this painting with the words "pregnancy portraits" over it... (link below)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4fcP6rCZg2U/TZ48vPs48mI/AAAAAAAAAqs/XO8As6CK7_Y/s1600/DSC_0230.JPG

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Keri Morgret
10/10/2011 09:24:20 am

Did it have anything to do with the contest violating Facebook's promotional guidelines? They get kinda strict on that and take stuff doing quickly. Would they not have found it as fast if you weren't doing the contest?

Specifically, you can't use the Like button as a voting mechanism. http://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php

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Becky link
10/10/2011 09:29:22 am

Your artwork is amazing!

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Kim
10/10/2011 09:31:40 am

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Melissa Stottmann
10/10/2011 09:33:51 am

Are you kidding me?!!! I'm so angry. Every one of these images made me warm and fuzzy and when I got to the last I was disgusted ( and I browsed the images before reading... Not realizing the last wasn't connected. )

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Lisa link
10/10/2011 11:27:44 am

That's the thing; you're taking it personally. If you were painting trees or old cars they wouldn't remove it. It's not about you. Your subject is a powerful woman guiding the future with love. They're afraid. If women really stood up, stop being victims of their lives and emanated that glow you paint in them... the world would be an amazing place. Imagine...

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Christina F
10/10/2011 11:37:44 am

Your artwork is beautiful and shows nothing other than the beauty of motherhood. I am currently trying to prove a point on my facebook page. I created an album of Renaissance artwork and what did a lot of their artwork contain.....NUDITY!!! I want to see if they try to remove it or warn me about displaying Renaissance art on my facebook page. Like artists from centuries ago, you are doing none other than displaying the human form and IMO showing the bond of mother and child.

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michelle
10/10/2011 01:17:43 pm

Ridiculous! What can we do.....this is beyond words. Shame on you FACEBOOK!!!!

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Amy West
10/10/2011 01:20:18 pm

Like Keri mentioned, this was against the FB TOU. It sounds like the pic was removed as an act of FB discriminating against images of motherhood...BUT, it's hard to get upset w/ FB when the images in question were part of a contest that violated FB's rules for promotions in several different ways.

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Sarah Becker
10/10/2011 02:01:38 pm

The mindset of so many people these days absolutely disgusts me! Breastfeeding shouldn't be hidden away.
I love your artwork :)

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Shari link
10/10/2011 02:04:13 pm

Your work is stunning and should be shared widely. I would be proud to show my 8 and 6 year old children your work. I think they instinctively understand the beauty of childbirth and nursing.

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Sarah K.
10/10/2011 02:05:42 pm

B"H
I am 6 months pregnant with my first and have been hearing all about this. It's coming up everywhere how the world can handle nude women using their bodies to pleasure men whereas a woman doing all the right stuff is too much. Your artwork is beautiful and made me feel so happy to be pregnant. G-d bless you for your beautiful artwork and I hope that the world should be able to recognize its beauty.

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cELlery blackrock
10/10/2011 04:29:18 pm

If you're for freedom of expression, and want breasts and babies to be shown, then you ought to consider the Constitution and the fact that it protects breasts and rifles. The idea is that we shouldn't legislate thought processes.

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sativa green
10/10/2011 06:45:42 pm

The paintings awakened something inside myself, and I'm sure many. Thank you for sharing your beautiful inspiring work. I and many women can instinctively connect with the intense feeling of a mother's love. The bond that is created breast feeding is undeniable. honestly cows milk, fluoridated water, ect were not made for human consumption. Love, love, Love the work. Please don't ever stop!

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Kate Hansen link
10/11/2011 03:44:07 am

@CanNurse- Just so you know... the contest is still open! I reopened it using a detail of the same portrait. Here is a link to that contest if anyone is interested!
http://on.fb.me/qhS9uW

It will be open and running until October 23rd :)

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d
10/11/2011 07:37:36 am

some people just dont understand what art is...woman and their children are beautiful in this loving way you show in your art...my wife and young son share this amazing love and bond and amazingly nutritious food source..its pure love and as natural and as innocent as it gets....dont be discouraged...focus on your artistic vision...stay true ...even this controversy will help you in your future.

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Maggie Marrelli
10/11/2011 08:43:52 am

Your paintings are so beautiful and so skillfully done. I wish you much success. Facebook is ridiculous in so many ways...

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Elle Pryce link
10/15/2011 12:53:12 am

yes ,as a lactivist and part of a support network for breastfeeding,milk sharing and informed birth choices we come across this often.Our pics are often removed. I love your art and it is obvious that those who report and delete are afraid of the strength of womanhood and have no appreciation of art

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buy facebook fans link
4/18/2012 08:30:45 pm

Great article its very striking. You have beautifully presented your thought in this blog post. I found so many interesting things in this blog, excellent work.

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    A blog on art, roller derby and life.

    Kate Hansen

    I'm an artist and mother of two  in Courtenay, BC.  I've completed a project called the "Madonna and Child Project," and I'm now working on a series of roller derby inspired drawings. In my spare time I play roller derby with the Brick House Betties.  

    Kate Hansen

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