A trio of civil liberty organizations are urging the Fort Worth Police Department to return photographs confiscated from an exhibit at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, according to a letter sent to the police chief on Wednesday.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and the National Coalition Against Censorship argue that the seizure of the images, which were taken by photographer Sally Mann, constitutes a First Amendment violation and is thus unconstitutional. They are also asking the police department to end its investigation into the images.
The photographs, which were part of an exhibit called Diaries of Home, featured contributions from 13 female and nonbinary artists. The show opened on November 17 and closed on February 2. An advisory attached to the show’s description warned of “mature themes that may be sensitive for some viewers.”
The scrutiny surrounding the Mann photographs first surfaced in late December, when The Dallas Express reported on community members who were displeased with the exhibit’s inclusion of images of naked children. Days later, a Christian group named the Danbury Institute posted a letter on its website addressed to the museum about Mann’s work, which it described as “presented under the guise of art, but in reality, it sexualizes children and exploits their innocence.” The letter also requested the museum remove the images, stating, “If such exhibits go unchallenged in Fort Worth, they risk becoming normalized nationwide.”
Some North Texas officials have also weighed in, including Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, who wrote in a January 8 post on X, “The images of children reported in the media at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth are deeply disturbing. Sexual exploitation of a minor, including under the guise of ‘art,’ should never be tolerated.”
Mann’s work has been the subject of scrutiny in the past. Her 1992 photo book Immediate Family became embroiled in morality debates concerning her children’s consent to be documented. A show she had in the ’90s at the Milwaukee Art Museum featuring the divisive images was investigated by police and the district’s attorney after a reverend rallied his base against her, she told The New York Times in 1992.
The Wednesday joint letter referenced past inquiries into her work. “There is a reason why Mann has never been arrested or charged with a crime over ‘Immediate Family’ in the 33 years since its release: there is nothing to investigate,” the letter read.
In response to the current controversy, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has released a statement saying that the images have been widely published and exhibited in leading cultural institutions across the country and around the world for more than 30 years.
The police department has not commented on the controversy, but a police official did say in a statement that there are no updates on the investigation and that the images remain in a police department property room.
The controversy has highlighted the ongoing debate around the role of art in society and the limits of free speech. The ACLU, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and the National Coalition Against Censorship argue that the seizure of the images is an attack on artistic freedom and that it sets a dangerous precedent for censorship.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Mann photographs has sparked a heated debate about the role of art in society and the limits of free speech. While some have argued that the images are inappropriate and should be removed, others have defended them as a form of artistic expression.
FAQs:
Q: What is the controversy surrounding the Mann photographs?
A: The controversy surrounds the seizure of photographs taken by Sally Mann, which were part of an exhibit at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The images depict naked children, which some have deemed inappropriate and offensive.
Q: What are the allegations against the photographs?
A: Some have accused the photographs of being sexualized and exploiting children, while others have defended them as a form of artistic expression.
Q: What is the response from the police department?
A: The police department has not commented on the controversy, but a police official did say that there are no updates on the investigation and that the images remain in a police department property room.
Q: What is the response from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth?
A: The museum has released a statement saying that the images have been widely published and exhibited in leading cultural institutions across the country and around the world for more than 30 years.
Q: What is the context of the controversy?
A: The controversy is part of a larger debate about the role of art in society and the limits of free speech. The ACLU, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and the National Coalition Against Censorship argue that the seizure of the images is an attack on artistic freedom and sets a dangerous precedent for censorship.
