CAP Conversation

In this thought-provoking conversation, cultural historian Dennis Barrie, former director of Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center, will revisit his central role in the landmark 1990 Mapplethorpe obscenity trial—when the museum faced criminal charges for exhibiting Mapplethorpe’s artwork. Barrie’s account will offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look into a moment that shook the art world and set lasting precedents for freedom of expression. Joining Barrie is Barbara Tannenbaum, esteemed Curator of Photography at the Cleveland Museum of Art, who will provide critical curatorial perspective on how museums today navigate provocative works, public funding, and institutional responsibility in an increasingly complex cultural landscape.