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I am pleased to be able to report that my Fine Art Photography project is back on display at BYU.
As many of you know, it was removed without notice to me last Friday. I posted a response to that action on this personal blog as well as my photography blog. While I was of course frustrated that the work was removed, I also hoped that it, and this situation, would prompt more discussion. This has now happened, and I'm very pleased about it.
Today BYU released an official statement which reads in part as follows:
"A miscommunication among administrators of BYU's College of Fine Arts and Communications led to a student's photography project being removed late Friday afternoon. When that action became apparent after the weekend, college administrators reviewed the decision. Because the project does not violate BYU's Honor Code, the photographs were re-hung with the student's permission Tuesday afternoon."
I thank the leadership of BYU's College of Fine Arts and Communications for their willingness to reconsider and then reverse the initial decision to remove the artwork. The whole point of my project and the exhibit was to promote dialogue and discussion and, I hoped, increased understanding among those who might otherwise feel their differences were too great to overcome. I think the administration's action has been a good example of that increased understanding. I hope that all students, faculty, staff and guests who can now view the project again will follow that example and will also be prompted to the same kind of respectful consideration, tolerance and willingness to reconsider personal perspectives.
14 comments:
that's great news. what kind of miscommunication?
I'm glad to see that this was reconsidered. I hope it helps move some toward understanding. Thanks for your brave efforts.
Consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Kudos to you. I look forward to viewing the exhibit.
That's wonderful news!
YEAH! I'm glad BYU made the right decision and were able to see your project for what it really is.
That's really great news, congratulations!
This is the way that the church and BYU and the Church works. They will do whatever they want and expect you to keep quiet. If you make some noise about it, the last thing they want is publicity. however, I would be surprised if they didn't try giving your parents a call, or threaten to out you to them. That is basically what they've tried to quiet people down so many other times.
I was really saddened by the news that the exhibit had been taken down, so I'm thrilled to hear that it's back up again. I think it's a wonderful project.
An article about your work being taken down has been circulating amongst my friends' email & myspace accounts. I'm glad to read that your work is on display again!
Do you have a link to it online? I'm in Oregon/Vermont & won't be able to see it in Salt Lake City.
An article about your work being taken down has been circulating amongst my friends' email & myspace accounts. I'm glad to read that your work is on display again!
Do you have a link to it online? I'm in Oregon/Vermont & won't be able to see it in Salt Lake City.
That's awesome! Congratulations!
Hey man...I'm really excited for you that they put it back up. I'm also happy for the campus for putting it back up. The students need to see this display. I wish I were closer to go and visit the exhibit in person. When does it end?
I'm really excited for you. I'm also happy for the campus for putting it back up. I wish I were closer to be able to see it in person. When does the exhibit end?
Wow this is so funny.. i stumbled onto your blog today and was just scanning through your wonderful posts-- and YOU are the guy I've been hearing about whose artwork was taken down! Wow. I graduated from BYU in '02 and I am just so happy that there are people there like you who are continuing to teach more understanding to the community there. I was extremely out while I was at BYU, so I am familiar with a lot of these battles. I just wanted to say from cyberspace.. I support you, and I really appreciate your point of view.
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