KSU forum discusses recent controversy over censored artwork
KSU holds forum to discuss race, trauma, and history in light of recent censorship controversy.
- Ruth Stanford
- “A Walk In the Valley” was originally removed, university officials said, because it ‘did not align with the celebratory atmosphere of the Museum’s opening’
Last month, after an outpouring of community protest and petitions, KSU officials amended their decision to remove artist Ruth Stanford’s work from the newly opened Zuckerman Museum. The artwork’s reinstatement was accompanied by a caveat that “campus officials also will provide explanatory materials and host public programs that address the complexity and controversial nature of the subject matter.”
The first of these public programs finally takes place tonight, with a forum on “Art, Memory, and Historical Trauma.” A panel of KSU faculty members will be joined by Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, professor of Women’s Studies and founding director of the Women’s Resource and Research Center at Spelman College at the event, which is presented by KSU’s Presidential Commission on Racial and Ethnic Dialogue. After the panel discussion, the floor will open for a general question-and-answer session.
When her work “A Walk In the Valley” was reinstated, Stanford expressed concern that “despite my best efforts I feel that KSU largely continues to control the conversation. The conversation should be about censorship, and KSU does not want to talk about that.” Friday’s press release from KSU said that tonight’s forum “will address the complex issues and challenges surrounding the recent controversy that unfolded at the University” but went on to specify that the discussion will “explore the controversial nature of the subject matter: Georgia writer Corra Harris - whose former homestead was gifted to the University in 2008.”
Judging from the release, Stanford’s concerns that the conversation will steer clear of censorship issues and focus on a more distant history could be well-founded. It might be up to the community to ensure that this forum will really address all sides of the controversy.
The forum takes place tonight from <a href=”https://web.kennesaw.edu/news/stories/kennesaw-state-university-officials-host-forum-” target=”_blank”art-memory-and-historical-trauma”“>5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kennesaw State University’s Social Sciences Auditorium.