Does the Art Excuse the Accused?

IN THE NEWS Does the Art Excuse the Accused? was recently the subject of an op-ed piece in the Chicago SunTimes “Why I can’t cancel Harry Potter” and also featured in the Columbia Chronicle: New gallery asks viewers, ‘Does the Art Excuse the Accused?

Does the Art Excuse the Accused? Consuming Culture in the #MeToo Era challenges us to reassess our praise for so-called genius or celebrity artists in a time when creatives are held more accountable for their actions. In the #MeToo era, social media platforms provide first-hand accounts of sexual assault and misconduct, forcing consumers to reconsider the musicians, directors, artists, and other creatives they admire. The exhibition further explores issues surrounding women’s mistreatment and lack of representation in the creative industries.

The structure you see through the Wabash Avenue windows consists of responses that were crowd-sourced from students, faculty, and followers via social media. It will continue to grow throughout the exhibition to include your perspectives. We invite you to answer the thorny questions you see throughout the exhibition and share your thoughts.

The Spring 2021 installation featured contemporary female artists who grapple with these issues in their work: Michelle Hartney, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, and The Guerrilla Girls feminist artists collective. Their work addresses daily oppressive experiences of marginalized people, the accountability of those in influential positions, and the responsibility of cultural institutions in interpreting works of problematic artists.

Does the Art Excuse the Accused? was originally presented during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, in coordination with the Sexual Assault Awareness Education Committee (SAAEC) at Columbia College Chicago. SAAEC provides the college community with programs and support services both on and off-campus.

The exhibition was curated by Madison Pope and produced by the Hokin, a Gallery Management Practicum course. The Hokin is a student-run collaboration of the Business and Entrepreneurship Department and the Department of Exhibitions, Performance, and Student Spaces (DEPS) of Columbia College Chicago providing professional experience in exhibition curation, production, programming, and marketing.