Chula Vista school mural depicts severed, speared Trump head

WARNING- THIS POST CONTAINS A POTENTIALLY DISTURBING IMAGE

I'm an artist and do not want my work to be censored or controlled, but if I had been commissioned to design a publicly displayed work at a school, I would consider my audience and weigh my options. It is possible to be creative and make a statement without being vulgar. Shocking art can be a valuable tool, but is it appropriate to place such (potentially) disturbing images at a school?
What do you all think? I'm particularly interested in how fellow artists might feel about this!

SOURCE

Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Donald Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting.

“We understand that there was a mural painted at the event this past weekend that does not align with our school’s philosophy of non-violence,” read the statement from MAAC Community Charter School director Tommy Ramirez. “We have been in communication with the artist — who has agreed to modify the artwork — to better align with the school’s philosophy.” The event Ramirez referred to was the annual Battlegroundz, a scholarship fundraiser held during the last weekend of April. During the fundraiser, students and invited artists paint murals that highlight urban art in an alley behind the school.

Here's the mural before being covered up: Modified mural:
ETA: HERE is a link to the schools website.
The school is open to students aged 14-24.

a reply to: seattlerat


The artist is a dick, but even dicks have a right to free expression.


The vidja games that kids play today are far more graphic. This is censorship, not matter the reason.

Since it was a local mural artist it can't be pinned on the school. Regardless of whose head it is an image of decapitation is never a suitable subject for school kids. Appears to be a Jaguar warrior which was the 2nd highest warrior class in Aztec culture. The Eagle warrior was #1.

The amount of hatred seething from Hispanics towards Trump and Republicans in general is undeserved unless you are an illegal alien. That's like burglars hating the police - a personal problem.

The artist wanted to get free publicity.
This is how you do it.
By being outrageous rather than artistic.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: seattlerat


The artist is a dick, but even dicks have a right to free expression.


The vidja games that kids play today are far more graphic. This is censorship, not matter the reason.

How does that work though. Who's property is it, was it a commissioned painting? In general can you freely express yourself on others private property? Public property? Or just your own?

If I paint your house, can I draw a giant penis on it in the guise of free expression?

a reply to: seattlerat

Please tell me this comes in a wall paper ! ! !

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: seattlerat


The artist is a dick, but even dicks have a right to free expression.


The vidja games that kids play today are far more graphic. This is censorship, not matter the reason.

I hear ya, and I agree. But with all the violence taking place at schools, do we want to promote harming others with depictions of our president's decapitated head right on school grounds? When students can be expelled for making a pretend gun using their hand, shouldn't the school be held to a standard that doesn't make them appear to be hypocrites?

a reply to: Asktheanimals

The amount of hatred seething from Hispanics towards Trump and Republicans in general is undeserved unless you are an illegal alien

OR... the child of an illegal or the wife or the husband or even cousin. Heck if you have friends who are Hispanic who have relatives who are illegal.

a reply to: seattlerat

I lived in Chula Vista for 2 years. It is a large area of San Diego. If you don’t speak spanish, it is not an easy place to live.

There is a lot of hate for anyone who is not mexican.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Not by drawing violent imagery in a publicly viewable space they don't.

originally posted by: seattlerat

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: seattlerat


The artist is a dick, but even dicks have a right to free expression.


The vidja games that kids play today are far more graphic. This is censorship, not matter the reason.

I hear ya, and I agree. But with all the violence taking place at schools, do we want to promote harming others with depictions of our president's decapitated head right on school grounds? When students can be expelled for making a pretend gun using their hand, shouldn't the school be held to a standard that doesn't make them appear to be hypocrites?

The problem is the school and not the artist then.

This is an obvious example of their hypocrisy.

originally posted by: hombero
a reply to: DBCowboy

Not by drawing violent imagery in a publicly viewable space they don't.

I disagree.

It is art.

It is free expression.

originally posted by: MisterSpock

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: seattlerat


The artist is a dick, but even dicks have a right to free expression.


The vidja games that kids play today are far more graphic. This is censorship, not matter the reason.

How does that work though. Who's property is it, was it a commissioned painting? In general can you freely express yourself on others private property? Public property? Or just your own?

If I paint your house, can I draw a giant penis on it in the guise of free expression?

If I paid you to be artistic on my house then it had better be an epic penis with dragons and purple clouds.

a reply to: seattlerat

The school is open to students aged 14-24? I wonder why that is?

originally posted by: seattlerat
The school is open to students aged 14-24.

Ummm...all artwork aside...are there really 24 year old high school students...?

I mean...

D'oh...WoodCarver beat me by a nose...But that's only cause he has such a protuberant proboscis...





YouSir

a reply to: seattlerat

Chula Vista


...that made me laugh

originally posted by: Woodcarver
a reply to: seattlerat


There is a lot of hate for anyone who is not mexican.

It's getting like that in a lot of blue states.

a reply to: seattlerat

I'm no Trump supporter and I find him despicable but I find this very distasteful. It's really like uttering death threats.

originally posted by: starwarsisreal
a reply to: seattlerat

I'm no Trump supporter and I find him despicable but I find this very distasteful. It's really like uttering death threats.

I am a Trump supporter, but I value free expression even higher.