Petrograd (sculpture)
Date: 2004
Region: North America
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Sculpture
Artist: René Z. Garza
Confronting Bodies: Lewis Savoie and the McAllen International Museum D/B/A The International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS)
Date of Action: July 2004
Location: IMAS, 1900 Nolana Loop McAllen, Texas 78504 (Rio Grande Valley) U.S.A
Description of Artwork: Petrograd is a metal found object sculpture consisting of a globe patched together from old gas signs and scrap mufflers resting on an oil barrel base.
The Incident: The sculpture was selected by curators to be featured in the museum's fledgeling Sculpture Garden in an upcoming event honoring the sponsors of the museum. A base was made for it according to the sculpture's precise measurements and the sculpture was installed. When Lewis Savoie returned from a trip in Spain, he had it removed for being too controversial (i.e. the piece was critical of corporate sponsorship).
Results of Incident: The censorship of the work recieved local press and a lawsuit was filed charging the violation of said artist's Texas Constitutional 1st Amendment Civil Rights. Garza rejected the Board's offer to include him on a committee that selects work for the museum.
Source: [email protected]