News from all over - Ashland
An art project that was mistaken for vandalism was the target of vandals who destroyed the exhibit last week. The artist, Paul Messenger, said the piece was a commentary on society's apathy to its problems, but was left for interpretation by the viewer.
The exhibit in the Southern Oregon University art courtyard and art buildings consisted of 36,000 feet of red tape. It was titled "The Depravity of Society Juxtaposed Against the Apathy of Contemporary Culture" and scheduled to be shown through July 2 as a final project in an art course taught by professor Madeline Alt.
The red tape was meant to contrast with the grey stone of the buildings. "It's a very dull atmosphere, a very sterile environment," Messenger said. Police cited an SOU sophomore, Genevieve Hummel, 19, for tearing the installation down, and the university art department is pressing charges. "I didn't know it was an art project," Hummel said. "It wasn't labeled. No one knew it was an art project."
Hummel said other people were tearing the art installation down and she was cleaning it up when art professor Cody Bustamante confronted them. "I was just picking up what people had made messy," Hummel said. "Everyone else split."
Bustamante brought her into his office where the two began to argue. Ashland police were called. Hummel was accused of 11 different conduct and student responsibility charges. She also is being charged with criminal mischief. The SOU art department is seeking $83.39 for six hours of labor and the supplies required to replace the installation.
Messenger said he talked with Hummel and worked out their own differences. Messenger chose not to press personal charges, saying, "That's one of the risks of public art."
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The exhibit in the Southern Oregon University art courtyard and art buildings consisted of 36,000 feet of red tape. It was titled "The Depravity of Society Juxtaposed Against the Apathy of Contemporary Culture" and scheduled to be shown through July 2 as a final project in an art course taught by professor Madeline Alt.
The red tape was meant to contrast with the grey stone of the buildings. "It's a very dull atmosphere, a very sterile environment," Messenger said. Police cited an SOU sophomore, Genevieve Hummel, 19, for tearing the installation down, and the university art department is pressing charges. "I didn't know it was an art project," Hummel said. "It wasn't labeled. No one knew it was an art project."
Hummel said other people were tearing the art installation down and she was cleaning it up when art professor Cody Bustamante confronted them. "I was just picking up what people had made messy," Hummel said. "Everyone else split."
Bustamante brought her into his office where the two began to argue. Ashland police were called. Hummel was accused of 11 different conduct and student responsibility charges. She also is being charged with criminal mischief. The SOU art department is seeking $83.39 for six hours of labor and the supplies required to replace the installation.
Messenger said he talked with Hummel and worked out their own differences. Messenger chose not to press personal charges, saying, "That's one of the risks of public art."
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