Two climate activists smeared red and black paint on the pedestal and plexiglass case of a sculpture in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., on April 27, the first instance of a climate-protest attack on artwork in the United States.
A man and a woman in dark suits poured paint on their hands and then smeared them on the base and protective case of “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” by Edgar Degas at about 11 a.m. Police arrested them and cleared the gallery.
The activists, identified as Timothy Martin of North Carolina, and Joanna Smith of New York, both 53, were arrested May 26 after a federal grand jury indicted them on two charge of conspiracy, to commit an offense against the United States, and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit.
HANDOUT, AFP via Getty Images
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and as much as $250,000 in fines.
Though the activists targeted the artwork’s plexiglass case, the sculpture, made mostly of beeswax, sustained some damage, estimated at $2,400. Banging the case can cause microscopic damage to the artwork, the National Gallery says. The sculpture was removed for 10 days for repair and was put back on display on May 8.
Declare Emergency organized the protest. Martin and Smith surrendered to police after the indictment was unsealed.
The protesters said they were bringing attention to climate change and demanded that President Joe Biden declare a climate emergency and halt fossil fuel drilling on federal lands.
In more than two dozen incidents since May 2022, activists protesting government inaction on climate change have defaced famous paintings in museums across Europe, throwing liquids on artwork glass or supergluing themselves to picture frames and gallery walls.
Most of these attacks have been in Europe, with two in Australia and one in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The historical artworks, under protective glass, have been obscured with a variety of substances but not permanently damaged, according to reports. Food items thrown include tomato soup, mashed potatoes and cake frosting.
Scroll over calendar for dates and details of attacks:
The attacks have targeted some of the most celebrated images in history, including:
Targeted artworks vary in size
The largest painting is a reproduction of da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. It’s nearly 26 feet wide and almost 10 feet deep. By contrast, “Girl With a Pearl Earring” is about 15 inches wide and roughly 18 inches deep.
Many of the attacks came as delegates were preparing for the U.N. climate summit COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Nov. 6. The summit gathered world leaders for negotiations on greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental issues.
Though a few activists acted independently, most of the protesters are part of organizations grouped within nations. They’re targeting art to generate public outrage, while asking questions like:
“Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?”
And while they’ve also engaged in acts of civil disobedience in the past, such as blocking traffic, obstructing Formula One car races, and spraying paint on buildings, it’s the assault on artwork that’s captured the public’s attention.
Concern over possible artwork damage drives people to videos and news stories. Inside museums, the use of superglue slows the removal of activists by security – and gives protesters time to voice their concerns to self-recorded videos or to museum-goers with smartphones.
Handout photo, Just Stop Oil/AFP via Getty Images
But while attacks have garnered attention and controversy, museums are worried. Activists “severely underestimate the fragility of these irreplaceable objects,” said the International Council of Museums in a statement on Nov. 9.
Even if the artwork itself isn’t damaged, the cost of cleaning and repairing frames can add up to tens of thousands of dollars, insurers say. And museums may start seeing higher insurance premiums if the attacks continue or expand and additional security is needed.
Who are the activists attacking art?
- Just Stop Oil (U.K): The organization says it is a coalition of groups cooperating to get the government to halt exploration, development and production of fossil fuels.
- Letzte Generation (Germany and Austria): The group says it wants the government to address climate change, starting with a speed limit of 60 mph on German highways and affordable public transport.
- Ultima Generazione (Italy): The group says it is a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience that has asked the government to halt reopening shuttered coal-fired plants, cease drilling for natural gas, and expand solar and wind power generation.
- Stopp Oljeletinga (Norway): The group says it wants a halt to all oil exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf.
- Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies (Australia): The group says it’s a nonpartisan organization that uses nonviolent civil resistance to seek an end to government subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.
- Extinction Rebellion (international): The organization says it is a nonpartisan international movement that uses nonviolent action and civil disobedience to get governments to act on climate change.
- Stop Fracking Around: A Canadian group demanding an end to fracked gas.
- Independent: No known affiliation with any climate protest group.
Letzte Generation Oesterreich, AP
Five of these groups, Just Stop Oil, Letzte Generation, Ultima Generazione, Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Stopp Oljeletinga, are part of the A22 Network. A22 is an international organization with the goal of raising public awareness of climate change and forcing governments to act.
The Climate Emergency Fund is the primary funder of A22. Climate Emergency Fund was established in 2019 to support to climate activists taking part in nonviolent protest, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. CEF does not provide lawyer fees or expenses, according to a spokesperson.
AP
Where have artworks been attacked?
Many agree that climate change is a problem
A Pew Research Center poll taken in 2019-2020 found that majorities in developed countries – including nations with A22 organizations or where art was attacked – say their national governments aren’t doing enough to address climate change and that climate change is a “very serious” problem.
Famous art has been attacked in the past
People have vandalized famous works of art in the past. The reasons vary – some were meant to draw attention to injustice, while others were acts of mentally unstable individuals. Incidents include:
1914: Suffragette Mary Richardson uses a meat cleaver to slash “The Rokeby Venus” by Diego Velázquez, in the London National Gallery to protest the arrest of Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the Women’s Social and Political Union.
Today: The painting was repaired and is on display.
1970: A version of Rodin’s The Thinker at the Cleveland Museum of Art is damaged by a bomb placed on its pedestal. No one ever claims responsibility for the act.
Today: The statue, in its damaged condition, is on display outside the museum.
AP
1972: An Australian man named Laslo Toth uses a hammer to smash pieces off the sculpture Pieta by Michelangelo in St. Peter’s Basilica. He breaks the left arm and parts of the face. Toth is later judged to be insane and deported.
Today: The sculpture was repaired and is on display behind bulletproof glass.
________
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Associated Press
Published
Updated
