Facebook vs. Motherhood

So, I was conducting a contest on my facebook fan page using the following portrait and text:  

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!

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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:

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:

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: 

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.