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in support of free expression
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WEB DESIGN
Jeanne Criscola Criscola Design
free speech first amendment censorship
Help protect the public art program in San Mateo!
Public art improves the image of a city, it attracts tourists, helps business, and improves the quality of life. That is why most American cities actively support it by allocating space and resources. An additional boon is that active public arts programs also create jobs for local artists and craftspeople.
Yet, art expresses thoughts and ideas that might not always be to the taste of every single member of a community. Occasionally a newly installed art piece will provoke one or two people to complain. This is all well expected. A problem arises, however, when city officials, yielding to a “heckler’s veto” decide that art that is “controversial” should not be exhibited in public.
This is precisely what happened in San Mateo, CA this month:
City Arts of San Mateo, a non-profit which had been working with the City’s public art program for many years, was, once again, invited to select art for the new display cases at the downtown transit center. After a single complaint, however, one of the artists in the display was asked to take down her work. She refused. City officials considered taking the work down themselves, but alerted to the First Amendment problems such an act would create, decided to close the whole exhibition two months earlier (in July rather than in September). In addition the City cancelled an initial plan to devote the transit center display cases to revolving art displays, dedicating them, instead, to announcements and advertising.
Some of the work that caused the controversy. Courtesy of the artist, Ruth Santee.
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The artist, Ruth Santee and the curator, Sinem Banna – both staunch defenders of creative freedom – are fighting to keep the art on display for the period initially agreed upon. They need your support!
Public officials in San Mateo’s also need to hear from members of the community who support a rich public arts program, as well as creative and curatorial freedom. We can’t all agree to like the same art pieces – but we can certainly tolerate them for a few months before another artist gets the chance to show their work. And isn’t a debate about an art piece – even one we find “weird” – a welcome respite from the endless barrage of advertising that we are all exposed to on a daily basis?
Contact information:
San Mateo City officials:
Carole Groom
San Mateo Mayor
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Email: cgroom@cityofsanmateo.org
Brandt Grotte
Deputy Mayor
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Email: bgrotte@cityofsanmateo.org
Jan Epstein, City Council Member
John Lee, City Council Member
Jack Matthews, City Council Member
330 West 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403
Phone: (650) 522-7049
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Arne L. Croce, City Manager
Susan Loftus, Deputy City Manager
Phone: (650) 522-7000
Fax: (650) 522-7001
citymanager@cityofsanmateo.org
Local media:
San Mateo Daily News City Editor Jason Green
650-391-1337
jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com
The San Mateo County Times
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/writealetter - Letters to the Editor
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