IOWA CITY – An art display that caused an uproar at the University of Iowa Friday was ordered removed by university officials.
Officials at the University of Iowa said their campus “is a diverse community with no tolerance for racism”. They said that artwork that was “briefly displayed” on the Pentacrest (Old Capitol area) Friday morning was “deeply offensive to members of our community”.
“Because it was placed without permission, university officials directed the visiting artist who created it to remove it, which he did,” a university statement said.
“The University of Iowa considers all forms of racism abhorrent and is deeply committed to the principles of inclusion and acceptance. There is no room for divisive, insensitive, and intolerant displays on this campus.The display was not approved by nor sanctioned by the university. The UI respects freedom of speech, but the university is also responsible for ensuring that public discourse is respectful and sensitive.”
After learning more about the artist’s intent with this sculpture, I don’t find it offensive, you can read about it here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/university-of-iowa/2014/12/05/ui-asks-artist-remove-work-pentacrest/19957345/
Too bad Mason City doesn’t have more thought provoking sculptures.
To provoke thought, half the populace would have to put down the bottle first, and that ain’t happening.
Make sure this is your campaign slogan if you decide to run for city council again Matt. Keep insulting those potential constituents.
The population does need to be insulted at times. And I wouldn’t qualify it as an insult, but rather a “truth-in their faces”. If they want to vote status quo bullshit, and be a bunch of conformed tools, then they open themselves up to scorn. When it comes to the voting (non-voting) masses, I’ll become the abusive boyfriend, all day long. Most of them don’t vote, or have any clue besides social media, cable tv, making themselves pretty, or getting drunk.
The coolest thing in the world actually would be if voting members of the populace would join their losing candidate and splinter off in total rebellion, refusing to just say “oh well, the other guy won, so I’ll get behind him because we’re all mandy,dandy Americanos”. That’s bullshit. Believe in your candidate, and follow them unto the depths of hell if need be. That’s what a true politically minded independent minded person would do. This political system is a convoluted fraud
Are you offering to be my campaign chairperson for the 2015 city council election?
The sculpture was an attack on bigotry. How anyone could think of it otherwise is beyond me.
The Univ. of Iowa administration sound like low-brow rubes to me.