"T'anks to Mr. Bush!" -- a painting by Stephen Pearcy -- has been moved from a display at the Department of Justice in Sacramento. Chronicle photo by Chris Stewart
Posted on 08/23/2005 8:12:33 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Sacramento -- A painting of the United States sinking into a toilet, formerly on display in the cafeteria of the state Department of Justice, has been moved by Attorney General Bill Lockyer to his 17th floor office, where public access is limited.
The artist who created the piece, Stephen Pearcy, said Lockyer's decision to move the painting violated his First Amendment right to political speech. The painting's inclusion in a larger exhibit displayed in the state building sparked protests from some conservatives and served as fodder for talk radio shows.
"His office is not public. The decision to move it was based on the content and the viewpoint being expressed," said Pearcy, a lawyer who received national attention in February for hanging an effigy of an American soldier on the outside of his home here with a sign saying "Bush lied, I died." Angry residents tore the effigies down.
A spokesman for Lockyer said that the painting was still on display and that its removal from the cafeteria had nothing to do with its content.
--snip--
On Monday, state Republican Party spokeswoman Karen Hanretty said Lockyer was bowing to political pressure in moving the painting.
"It's a political maneuver," Hanretty said. "Doing anything perceived as anti-American, anti-Bush or anti-military doesn't sit well with mainstream voters."
Barankin insisted the move was not political.
"Public comment had died down to nothing," he said. "The move certainly wasn't the result of direct public agitation about the artwork. We have art on display in virtually every floor of this building.''
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
"T'anks to Mr. Bush!" -- a painting by Stephen Pearcy -- has been moved from a display at the Department of Justice in Sacramento. Chronicle photo by Chris Stewart
state Republican Party spokeswoman Karen Hanretty said Lockyer was bowing to political pressure in moving the painting. "It's a political maneuver," Hanretty said. "Doing anything perceived as anti-American, anti-Bush or anti-military doesn't sit well with mainstream voters."
Right to venue, Pearcy? You must not be much of a lawyer.
Lockyer doesn't have the guts to toss it in the trash, so he puts it in his office where he can admire it all day long...
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