People complained, so this Pierce County city took down artwork that promotes diversity
Bonney Lake city leaders took down artwork from the Justice and Municipal Center this week that showed hands spelling out the word “diversity” in American Sign Language, following complaints.
The copy of the painting, called “D I V E R S I T Y,” was offered to courts across the state and across the United States. More than 100 copies are on public display artist Anthony David Gipe told The News Tribune last month. Gipe is a Kent Municipal Court judge and Washington State Minority and Justice Commission member.
Bonney Lake isn’t one of those places as of this week, City Administrator John Vodopich told The News Tribune via email Thursday.
He said the city removed the artwork from the lobby of the city’s Justice and Municipal Center on Tuesday. Asked who made the decision, Vodopich later clarified that he and Mayor Terry Carter are responsible for administration of the city’s art-display policy.
“The Mayor asked that I respond to your inquiry,” Vodopich wrote. “The city rotates various art displays in city hall. This art piece in question was displayed in our lobby for a short period of time, and during that time the city received several complaints about the print. The city’s goal in choosing art displays is to bring the community together to share beauty. Displays that create division are contrary to the goals of the city art program. Therefore, the city opted to remove the artwork from public display.”
Vodopich said the city returned the artwork to Bonney Lake Municipal Court Judge Joanna Daniels.
Initially, the artwork was a gift from the Minority and Justice Commission, and Daniels hung it in her courtroom, which doubles as the City Council chambers. Then the city moved it to the lobby of the Justice and Municipal Center, and Carter told The News Tribune Aug. 29 that conversations about the city’s art policy were ongoing.
Public controversy about the painting started when Council member Gwendolyn Fullerton raised concerns during the council’s Aug. 27 meeting. One of the hands in the painting has a ring that says “BLM.” Fullerton said the artwork was biased and political.
Gipe told The News Tribune last month that the painting is meant to bring people together, not divide them.
“I’ve never heard anyone express that belief about it,” Gipe said about Fullerton’s take on the painting. “Inclusion is for everyone, even if we don’t agree with them.”
‘It’s disappointing’
Now the print is hanging in Daniels’ office, the judge told The News Tribune on Thursday.
Asked if she thinks that will be its permanent home, she said: “If there’s no place else for it to hang, yes, I’ll hang it in there. I certainly enjoy looking at it.”
Does she think the city will find a new public space to display it?
“Based on the general attitude, I don’t foresee that,” Daniels said. “At least not in the foreseeable future. It just doesn’t seem like that’s something that they want to do. That’s my impression.”
She learned of the decision to remove it from public display Tuesday afternoon, she said.
“The mayor came down to my office to let me know that it had been decided that the picture was going to come down from the lobby, and basically he said it was his decision,” she told The News Tribune.
The two discussed it, Daniels said, adding: “I understand the position, and so be it.”
Asked about her takeaway from what happened, Daniels said: “I guess maybe I didn’t have as much of a feel for the community as I thought. ... It’s disappointing.”
She said what happened doesn’t change her approach to her role as the city’s judge.
“It doesn’t affect my ability to do my job,” Daniels said. “It doesn’t affect my ability to be an effective municipal court judge and to represent the community appropriately in the courtroom and with regard to justice.”
She said there’s no artwork on the walls of the courtroom. There are logos hanging for Bonney Lake’s Community Court and Sumner’s Community Court.
Those programs take people accused of crimes and try to address the underlying reasons that they got involved in the justice system, such as substance abuse, unemployment and mental health challenges.
“The goal is to help them overcome those challenges and ultimately become productive members of the community,” Daniels said.
Asked about the role art plays in courtrooms, Daniels said she’s seen many courtrooms with images of nature, such as mountains or birds. Those who have to go to court are very nervous, she said. It’s a stressful experience, and she said art can make the setting a bit more tranquil.
She said she’s also seen many courtrooms with images such as the Gettysburg Address, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Constitution.
“I think it just sets the tone for the courtroom that this is a place where people come to be heard and to be treated fairly,” she said.
She thought Gipe’s piece would do that.
“Clearly other people didn’t feel that way,” she said.
This story was originally published September 14, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
