A brief description of what happened…
In 2019, the New Mexico Museum of Art and New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs censored the Greater Chaco Art Zine Imbalance for being “too political,” where, “all the poetry in the zine relates to what would unmistakenly be interpreted as political commentary to stop fracking,” and becasue they claimed it was in violation to Governmental Conduct Act Section 10-1603.1 NMSA 1978.
Ever since this censorship was discovered, artists and project facilitators Asha Canalos and Jeanette Hart-Mann, along with zine artists and community partners, have been investigating, taking a stand against, and bringing greater awareness to this issue.
A complete narrative of this, along with timeline and selected Inspection of Public Records Act documents can be found in this website. We also encourage you to sign our petition demanding the NM Department of Cultural Affairs and Museum of Art adopt a formal policy affirming artistic freedom, including the right of artists to voice political opinions without fear of being silenced.
