Artwork less troubling than UI statement

While we empathize with community members and University of Iowa students who were shocked and concerned by an unauthorized public art display on Friday, we hold no such warmth for the crafters of a university statement regarding the incident.

The roughly seven-foot depiction of a Ku Klux Klan member, robes constructed with newspaper clippings of past racial violence, contained a camera to capture viewer reactions.

Art that forces us to look at the world in a different way, to adopt an alternative perspective, is often disturbing. The fact this specific display was in the form of a justifiably reviled image emerging from morning fog, seemingly to mock recent equality demonstrators, added to its strong emotional pull.

Even so, it is not unreasonable to expect people in positions of influence and power to think before they speak.

Official comment from the university arrived shortly after the display was removed and conveyed more bewilderment with the specific artwork than infraction of campus policy. It would have been beneficial for university officials to engage the artist in conversation before asserting the piece was 'divisive, insensitive and intolerant.”

Policies and rules govern public art displays on campus, and we fully support the need and continuance of them. The powers-that-be are well within their rights to ensure displays don't block the public or pose safety risks.

Because visiting art professor Serhat Tanyolacar did not use proper channels to authorize this display, university officials appropriately removed it from the Pentacrest. Officials were not, however, at liberty to assign specific anti-race sentiments to it, nor should they have fanned the flames of divisive rumor already surrounding the art.

And now, in further response to the misplaced indignation officially embraced by university officials, President Sally Mason has announced a new advisory committee to 'strengthen cultural competency.”

The first agenda item for this committee should be the lack of leadership shown by university officials in reaction to this display. The emotion the artwork evoked, and the intention of the artist provided an educational opportunity for all - an opportunity the university squandered.

Too much of this country's ugly racial past is the product of emotional, knee-jerk reactions.

' Comments: editorial@thegazette.com; (319) 398-8262