2008 Woodie Awards
Students' art display evokes conflict
Tire swing, 7 noose-like ropes in campus tree meant to depict death of childhood
Megan Weiland and Monica Bolyson
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Front Page
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According to the three student artists involved, the piece, titled "Growing Up," was a class project, pre-approved by their professor and another member of the art department staff and was intended to signify the death of childhood-death being signified by the noose-like ropes and childhood signified by the tire swing.
A representative for the artists attended the emergency session to explain the thought process behind the display.
"It was never intended to be a racial statement," said the representative. "It was a class project for an Intro to Art class. The artists even changed the knots to scaffolding knots to signify death in its purest form without creating an actual noose."
He added that the seven noose-like ropes were meant to signify seven decades or 70 years, the lifespan of an average man. They were hung in a way that they could only clearly be seen if sitting on the tire swing.
The display was exhibited in a tree on Patterson Avenue across from the Art Building from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, until a student called the police at 5:13 p.m. alerting them to the display.
"It was only intended for our class to see," said one of the students involved. "We put it up right before our art class and immediately after my last class I went to take it down. When I got there, around five, police were there and wouldn't let me touch it."
The representative for the student said to ASG members that this was for safety purposes only as the ropes were hung high in the tree.
The resolution passed by ASG recognized what the project was and what it symbolized in its entirety and resolved to accept the role, through the Diversity Affairs Council, to create and facilitate different programs and discussions to educate the Miami community and raise awareness.
"This was good for us," said Jens Sutmöller, student body president. "In the end I think we accomplished three things. The first was student senate and leaders now have a better understanding of the situation. Then we realized there was an opportunity and responsibility to continue discussing the concepts as a campus and community. And third we are presenting as an organization that racism and bigotry do exist on campuses and we need to improve upon that climate."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 23
Nick
posted 11/02/07 @ 1:26 AM EST
Art is controversial. Now 'student government' is here to let us know that 'racism and bigotry still exist on campuses.' A noose does not automatically equal racism. (Continued…)
Miami Faculty member
posted 11/02/07 @ 10:13 AM EST
They should be executed! In fact, I would say a public hanging is in order except that this has already been accomplished by Hodge with his over-the-top email to the university community. (Continued…)
Nicholas P. Stroup - Miami alum
posted 11/02/07 @ 11:08 AM EST
Monica deviates from the reality of the situation and tries to confuse the issue by discussing something that did not occur in the context as though it did. (Continued…)
Laura
posted 11/02/07 @ 11:44 AM EST
While it seems clear that the artist(s) did not intend to cause any pain, and they did not view the noose as a racist symbol, the point of the matter remains many people did view it in that manner. (Continued…)
Eric Stratton
posted 11/02/07 @ 1:13 PM EST
To the ASG:
The issue here is not whether the tire swing is offensive. It is. But you can't hold the whole art class responsible for the behavior of a few sick, perverted individuals. (Continued…)
Sean Balanger
posted 11/02/07 @ 3:14 PM EST
The most ridiculous part about all this is that now the media, Hodge, top Miami officials, faculty and students all over the campus, mostly people who never even saw this and probably never would have, are perpetuating this event. (Continued…)
Portia Alves
posted 11/02/07 @ 5:30 PM EST
It seems as though no one is really getting the point. Everyone would have been (and as I understand, was) ready to slit throats when someone made a joke about 9/11 too soon. (Continued…)
Shaun
posted 11/02/07 @ 7:06 PM EST
Since when has an instrument of death been assigned to one particular race? That's a little arrogant in my opinion. Many people of all colors and creeds have been killed via rope with a loop in it, quite a few by their own hand. (Continued…)
sutina
posted 11/02/07 @ 9:26 PM EST
The noose is a symbol which can have very different interpretations. Some people have a very emotional, visceral reaction to such a symbol. Not everyone experiences fear and alarm at the sight of a noose, but that doesn't give us the right to say that those who are affected by its display are overreacting. (Continued…)
Sarah D.
posted 11/02/07 @ 9:57 PM EST
If these students are punished for their unintentional, "harmful," PRE-APPROVED art, I will have no doubt that there will be an uprising of students who don't even like art. (Continued…)
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