Art/Labor Show Featuring Banned Maine Muralist Opens Tonight

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO) Celebrate Labor: Where Art and Politics Meet opens tonight at VisArts at Rockville. The show presents the work of Maine artist Judy Taylor, whose 11-panel Labor Mural was removed in March from the headquarters of Maine's Department of Labor by Republican Governor Paul LePage.  The mural’s politically motivated removal has been the subject of major controversy as reported in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post and MSNBC. A large-scale reproduction of the mural, preliminary drawings, labor paintings and supporting work will be on view from August 30th through September 20th.  The show will also feature a large-scale reproduction of Michael Spafford's Twelve Labors of Hercules whose removal from the Washington State House of Representatives chamber incited major controversy. In addition to tonight’s opening reception, the show includes an artist talk by Judy Taylor on September 10th and a panel discussion on September 15th focusing on the intersection of art and politics.  Panelists include Georgetown University Labor History Professor Joe McCartin; Julian Spirer, an attorney who has argued cases on art in the public sector; Don Tuski, President, Maine College of Art and Penny Harris, former President, League of Women Voters, Maine.