The irony of banned books.

In the aftermath of the East of Eden Exhibition, and listening to NPR this morning...

American Library Association's Banned Book Week. The example used was John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. He also wrote East of Eden.

excerpt from NPR
Sept. 29 marks the beginning of the American Library Association's annual "Banned Books Week," a commemoration of all the books that have ever been removed from library shelves and classrooms. Politics, religion, sex, witchcraft — people give a lot of reasons for wanting to ban books, says Judith Krug of the ALA, but most often the bannings are about fear.

"They're not afraid of the book; they're afraid of the ideas," says Krug. "The materials that are challenged and banned say something about the human condition."

East of Eden is the first project Gallery Revisited participated in since closing its doors...even I will be curious about what will be coming up next!!

One thing I have learned, is to focus on and build relationships
with those who "get" what I do, not those who are afraid of it.
The trick is to leave people with understanding and respect,
as opposed to further apprehension and seeking the false truths and negativity.

Funny how clumps of people just all agree with each other because of their fears.
Even to the point of burning a book - as if that would quiet Steinbeck.