Iowa City artist behind KKK sculpture plans ‘Fear of Art’ discussion

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa assistant professor and multimedia artist whose Ku Klux Klan-robed sculpture in December sparked debate about diversity and free speech is hosting a 'Fear of Fear of Art” discussion next week at Kirkwood Community College.

The two-hour event on Kirkwood's Iowa City campus - pitched on Facebook as a conversation with Serhat Tanyolacar, artists, community leaders and academics - will delve deeper into the topics of free speech, academic integrity, diversity and public space.

Tanyolacar, who in May will wrap up his time at the UI as a Grant Wood Art Colony Printmaking Fellow, has criticized the university's handling of his sculpture and the controversy that erupted when he installed it on the Pentacrest without permission Dec. 5.

The 7-foot-tall statue likened a Ku Klux Klansman but was robed in screen-printed articles from U.S. newspapers depicting the 'horror and violence” in racist ideology. Tanyolacar said the public art, which remained on campus for about four hours before police took it down, was meant to spark discussion and create positive change in light of racial tensions flaring nationally.

Tanyolacar initially apologized for the statue, as did university administrators who referred to it as 'deeply offensive” and said the institution 'considers all forms of racism abhorrent.” He later clarified his apology, saying he's sorry some people took his work the wrong way while also espousing his right to free speech and the importance of public art.

Later, Tanyolacar talked about the ways in which the experience and the UI's reaction impacted him. He said the administration owes him an apology.

In an email obtained by The Gazette, Tanyolacar said the university depicted him as a 'racist, intolerant, and prejudice individual, which hurt me more than ever.”

The university clarified its initial criticism of the piece, saying officials took it down because the artist didn't get permission to install it on campus.

The upcoming panel discussion is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Kirkwood commons area. The campus is at 1816 Lower Muscatine Road.

Tanyolacar has invited several hundred people on social media, and dozens have said they plan to attend.