Spring Break
Historic Chicano poster art vandalized in Library, again
Ashley Evans
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: News
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Gallery Assistant Leslie Rivers said that the most recent case of vandalism occurred on Feb. 7 and involved one student spitting on a piece of limited edition RCAF artwork.
This incident could be considered mild compared to the vandalism that occurred in March, where two RCAF paintings were stolen, brought into a nearby men's restroom and stomped until both the frames and paintings were significantly damaged. Associate professor of art Ricardo Favela said that both crimes are equally destructive in his mind.
"I want this issue investigated," Favela said. "We still haven't caught the two people responsible for the vandalism in March because the cameras in the gallery were either not clear from certain angles or were turned off altogether."
Rivers said that the poster that was spat on was on display. "Fortunately, the poster was not damaged (by the spit) because it was in a frame."
Rivers went on to say that although no physical damage was done, University Police and members of University Media Services are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime.
Attempts to contact campus police were unsuccessful as of press time.
"Steve Sparks from University Media Services and a police officer reviewed the security tapes and believe that they have identified an individual 'of interest,'" Rivers said. "When I last spoke with Steve he was still tracking the person moving through the building on multiple cameras in order to obtain a clear view of his face."
Favela, owner of the vandalized artwork, said that he is a bit skeptical about both the seriousness and effectiveness of the investigation process.
As one of the three founding members of the RCAF organization, which was established in the 1970s as a direct result of the Chicano struggle for equality, Favela wants people of every race, gender and ethnicity to be treated equally.
Favela went on and said that he considers both the most recent act of vandalism and the incident in March to be hate crimes.
"This is absolutely a hate crime," Favela said. "I am mortified that this happened…there is no excuse for it. You don't have to like a specific piece of artwork…but if you don't talk to someone about it. Don't destroy it for everyone else."
Rivers said she feels that both instances of vandalism were ethnically motivated.
"(The vandalism) saddens me," Rivers said. "I feel disappointed that individuals who walk among us could display such disrespect to fellow citizens of our community and fail utterly to see and appreciate the cultural richness and social activism that the artists of the RCAF represent."
Junior child development major Maria Lopez said she agrees that the vandalism does, at least on the surface, appear to be a hate crime.
"I would definitely call it a hate crime," Lopez said. "The Chicano poster was the only piece of artwork vandalized. It's obvious that it wasn't about artwork, itself, it was about the culture that the artwork was (depicting)."
Rivers said while new security measures to keep the RCAF artwork safe are in the works, budgetary restraints are making the process extremely difficult.
"We are working on organizing student 'gallery sitters' to watch the Annex Gallery where the RCAF work is being exhibited," Rivers said. "Unfortunately, we do not have a budget to hire more staff members…so any gallery sitters will have to be on a voluntary basis only."
Favela said a recent appraisal of his entire collection came out to about $93,000. He said his goal, as the proprietor of the large authentic Chicano art collection, is to keep the spirit of the artwork alive by donating portions of his collection to a number of higher learning facilities in California.
"I have donated pieces of my collection to a number of universities including Stanford, Sacramento State, San Jose State (and many more)," Favela said.
When asked if the two incidents of vandalism made him rethink his plans of donating most if not all of his collection to higher learning facilities Favela simply responded "no."
"I feel that it is too important for students and others to view and understand the artwork as well as the meaning behind (freedom of expression)," Favela said. "I will not (back down) because of intimidation or the (prejudices of others)."
Favela went on and said that the vandalism toward his pieces have actually acted as a double-edged sword for the collection itself.
"What the (perpetrators of the crime) don't realize is that by damaging, defacing or trying to steal the artwork, they are actually giving us (and the work) publicity," Favela said.
Ashley Evans can be reached at news@statehornet.com
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