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And way back in 1965, the Bond movie "Goldfinger" gave us a woman dressed in gold paint. She wasn't naked; unfortunately, she was dead.* Doug

Yes! And the world was save by transfering the Gold paint back into bullion bars at Fort Knox after melting her body down. Doug! Do you really think the Gold is still at Fort Knox or store in a Art Museum in Paris? Better yet! Do you really believe most Americans turn in their gold during the depression when President Roosevelt demanded it?

Art and Gold is what is in the eyes of the beholder!

More to the point, do you really believe that nudity alone, in an artistic context, in front of consenting adults, would, could or should bring the police to a public facility?

It won't, and it shouldn't. (You get some additional wrinkles in N.C. if alcohol is being served, but by and large ... )

Related point: If a film isn't obscene, the legislature shouldn't be setting itself up as a content editor so as to decide who gets incentives. Give incentives to everyone who qualifies on practical/financial grounds, or (my preference) don't. All editors are bad to some degree; legislators are among the worst.

I imagine in would and could in some locations, but no, I wouldn't say should.

Your related point is harder to address. You really express the difficulty yourself in the premise of your question: If a film isn't obscene ...

Who makes that determination? It's not going to be the legislature, but the legislature should assign the job to the film commission or some other authority if it wants to enforce its own law, which makes the granting of incentives conditional. One of the conditions has to do with the film's content.

My own parents won't come to this day to a show of my art or a theatre production I am in if they know ahead of time there will be nudity. That's their prerogative. But they've never said they think I shouldn't be in such shows or make such art. I could hardly teach the traditonal approach to art without nude models, either!

The Broach, where I have worked, has a long reputation for appealing to a diverse crowd: some of their shows aim for audiences comfortable with "Southern comedy", others with "British farce" (my specialty) and then others go in for shows with gay characters and themes, for example. The Fringe festival isn't a Broach-directed show, they are simply hosting it, but the theatre is fast becoming the avant-garde place for progressive new art. The Triad Stage may have better sets, more Equity stars, and just as terrific shows and directors, but I think it has made some clear compromises to win support from corporate donors and friends...more power to them.

I am glad there's a place for riskier fare outside the basement of undergraduate students and some of the experimental dance at UNCG, et al.

Thanks for the perspective, Jim. I haven't been there yet, but I should take a look.

Though I've come across this thread somewhat after the fact, I want to post my agreement with Jim.

Sometimes I am acting in the capacity of an artist, though not naked. Other times in my life, the opposite is true. When I choose to make the statement of combining the two, it is good to know that there are both venues and audiences (as evidenced by "Opening the Eye of Light's" complete sell-out of the run) here in the Triad.

I relocated to Rockingham County just over a year ago, and have found the Triad to be quite a hospitable home for artists. Our show was a good fit for The Fringe Festival and counless other local venues and arts organizations have been a good fit for bodypainting events and burlesque performance in the past year.

I have found the Triad to be more progessive towards arts and entertainment than I had anticipated. I would recommned the area to anyone considering a move here from a larger city.

Madelyn Greco - Role of "Titania", Opening the Eye of Light
Co-creator, Opening the Eye of Light

Thanks for your comments, Madelyn.