Capitol Exhibits: Interpret, But Do Not Censor

While we can’t say we’re fans of some of the artwork hung in the Capitol Extension, we don’t support censoring it, either.

This week, however, State Rep. Borris Miles (D-Houston), (who we respect very much, incidentally) took issue with some art in a visiting art exhibit in the Capitol Extension and actually removed a couple of the pieces.

While we find the images of a black man hanging from a noose and a charcoal drawing of an electric chair with the inscription “Doing God’s Work” very disturbing (to say the least), censoring the artwork is not the answer.

For one thing, the artwork, while disturbing and, perhaps even tasteless, is actually an exhibit from the Texas Moratorium Network which is an anti-death penalty group.

For another, this could set the state down a very tricky path toward censoring other works of art that hang in the Extension on a “visiting” basis.

Instead of censoring the artwork (and, we feel a legislator of either party personally removing the paintings is a bit over-the-top, in all honesty), we believe the Preservation Board should instead institute requirements that all exhibits that hang in the Extension be accompanied by text panels that explain each piece as well as a plackard somewhere that explains the exhibit and, if necessary, warns parents of young children that some of the images they see might be disturbing.

There are plenty of exhibits that could be “disturbing” that might hang in the Extension such an exhibit from a Holocaust museum. However, it’s important to draw the line between something simply being “disturbing” or “tasteless” and actually censoring work.

Furthermore, Republicans could use this as ammunition to remove the work of specific artists they disagree with or exhibits sponsored by specific groups whom they disagree with.

The exhibits need interpretation and disclaimers, but do not need to be removed.

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