Join the Nipple Ring Protest Art Exhibition Project

LAS VEGAS - A protest art exhibition has been organized to focus attention on the recent situation in Lubbock, Texas, where an airline passenger was not allowed to pass through security without removing a piece of personal jewelry. In late March, Mandi Hamlin had to remove a stubborn nipple ring by the use of pliars in what seems to be an outrageous abuse of power by one or more representatives of the Department of Homeland Security Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).

In the face of public ridicule, the TSA made a hasty adjustment to their nipple ring policy. Now, passengers stopped at a security checkpoint may flash their nipple rings for visual inspection rather than forceably remove the offending jewelry.

The Department of Homeland Security has a very serious task. But, if the TSA intends to be taken seriously, do they really want the job title of "Official Boobie Inspector?" And, what is to stop them with nipple ring inspections? Where does this unreasonable abuse of power - in the name of national security - end?

"Throughout history, nudity has often been used as a form of protest," photographic artist and organizer Allio said. "This is a serious protest. It is unfortunate that it seems the citizens of the United States have lost the desire to protest injustice. My hope is that the creation of this protest art exhibition will draw appropriate attention to such abusive and unfair treatment of We The People. Americans deserve to be treated with greater dignity than has been shown in recent years."

Allio is a respected and internationally honored photographer of the artistic figure nude. His professional career spans more than three decades. Most recently, three of his figure studies were featured in the March/April 2008 edition of European art magazine NuExpo.

Join the protest art exhibition. Men and women with nipple rings may join the protest by having their portraits included in the art exhibition. Allio will be in Las Vegas on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, from Noon until 6pm to create protest portrait artworks that will be added to the overall exhibition.

"When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him."
- Bayard Rustin (1910-1987), a Black American civil rights activist.

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope."
- Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968), United States attorney general.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."
- Frederick Douglass (1817-1895), Abolitionist.

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