Damaged Art: Brooklyn College Investigating Itself

Stung by stories that controversial student artwork removed from the Brooklyn War Memorial was damaged and lost, Brooklyn College officials have told reporters that they are investigating the claims. A statement from the college reported by AP, said in part, "We take these reports seriously and are currently investigating the nature and extent of this damage."

Students were finally allowed access to the works yesterday and say that school officials added insult to injury by allowing only one student at a time to examine the (in effect, vandalized) art, a process that lasted from 9AM-6PM.

The say much of the work--a few of which were sexual in nature and dealt with gay themes--was trashed when it was removed by college maintenance workers. Art ended up tossed in trash bags and damaged. Some can not be found. One student artist (who can not find ten drawings and most elements of a site-specific installation) says she hopes officials who decided to "employ untrained workers in the movement of artwork" are held accountable for the damage. The Department of Parks & Recreation closed the show the day after it opened, saying it was not "appropriate for families."

GL hopes the BC "investigation" extends beyond the nature and extent of the damage, which is clearly documented in simple, multiple photos that are posted online at at blog called Plan (C)ensored. (A statement from the artists about the damage is also there.)

Perhaps the "investigation" should be handled externally and include how the decision to thuggishly remove art--whether one approves of the content or not--was made and by whom.

The surviving art will be displayed at 70 Washington in Dumbo in space donated by developer David Walentis. It is probably not going out on a limb to predict that the exhibition will draw a crowd.