Posted on 09/02/2023 11:06:59 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The police arrested the activist, who used washable paint.
Climate activists have once again targeted a famous work of art, with a member of the group On2Ottawa throwing pink paint on Tom Thomson’s Northern River (1915) at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and affixing himself to the museum floor on Tuesday.
“Fortunately, the artwork was not harmed during the incident,” the institution said in a statement. “The work was displayed in a protective glazed panel and has been taken out from display for further evaluation. We expect it will be rehung shortly.”
The protestor, who has been identified as, Kaleb Suedfeld, aged 28, smeared the paint across the glass with his palm before applying glue to his hand, sitting down, and reading a prepared speech.
“Fossil fuel industries are destroying the work of art that is our planet and our government is firmly in their grip, doing nothing to stop their crimes,” Suedfeld said. “We are shocked that the governments around the world, including our own, are allowing our beautiful planet, this work of art, to be gutted and burned to fuel the pockets of fossil fuel plutocrats.”
The museum called Ottawa Police Service to the scene, and they arrested Suedfeld.
On2Ottawa describes itself as “a non-violent civil disobedience campaign” aimed at prompting government officials “to take urgent and meaningful action on the climate crisis.” In response to Canada’s record-setting wildfires, which since March have affected all 13 provinces and territories, it has staged numerous protests in recent weeks blocking traffic in Ottawa.
Targeting works of art is a tactic denounced by many art-world authorities, including the Association of Art Museum Directors, which in November insisted that “attacks on works of art cannot be justified, whether the motivations are political, religious, or cultural… Such protests are misdirected, and the ends do not justify the means.”
But some activists maintain that such disruptive activities are as necessary due to their ability to attract widespread media attention, as opposed to petitions or direct outreach to public officials.
“That does not get the coverage that we absolutely need to succeed as a project,” On2Ottawa spokesperson Laura Sullivan told ARTnews, noting that the pink paint tossed at the Thomson painting was washable. To date, 12 members of the activist group have been arrested at protests, which are set to continue over the next week and a half.
The National Gallery called the incident “unfortunate,” but declined to comment further due to the ongoing police investigation.
Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland from Just Stop Oil addressing the public after throwing tomato soup on Vincent Van Gogh’s Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers (1888). Screenshot from @damiengayle.
The first art museum climate protest was at the Louvre in Paris in May 2022, where a man smeared cake on the glass protecting Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. A campaign launched by Just Stop Oil roughly a month later saw activists target high-profile paintings including works by Vincent van Gogh and J.M.W. Turner at a quartet of U.K. museums.
From there, the floodgates opened, triggering copycat actions at institutions across Europe and beyond that continue to this day, despite concerns about potential damage to the works and widespread criticism of the trend.
Let her stayed glued, at least she doesn’t use pronouns like them/they.
Cut the A/C and electric.
Yep. I think it would be funny to just leave the person glued there and put a security camera on a tripod a safe distance away to watch them. Then check back in a week. “Do you need a glass of water?”
I think I’d pay to se one of these idiots who’s glued themselves to the floor screaming as their hand is pried off said floor without the use glue-loosening solvents.
As for the destruction of priceless works of art that are the collective heritage of all humanity (”washable” doesn’t mean that the thing isn’t damaged during said “washing”!!), let us weigh the protestor’s value to humanity against that of the artwork, and decide from there...
How did he get there? Did he use a form of transportation which was powered by Fossil fuel? If he rode a bike or if he walked you know oil is used to build those things. Hypocrite. And I love how he is protesting at a work of art that was painted with oil.
Apply more glue. Call it “Art”.
WTH don’t they let them stay there until they have to use the restroom. LOL
Probably have diapers on. Still after a day or three....
I like that!
Leave the thing glued to the floor and put an exhibit sign in front of it. Leave it for a few days, at least. Have a contest for naming rights and charge $5 a pop.
Agree and make sure they get plenty of liquids and food. Also take away any solvents that will let them free.
Did Trudeau take It’s bank account ?
Rehang the painting, then hang the violator.
Leave there.
Spray with cleaner once a day.
It’s easy to point to one person and think “what a stoopid idjit”. However, the reality is that this is the logical outcome of what happens when these gullible and misguided individuals are subjected to the influence of what is nothing but a big lie....and those who promote the big lie (and those who don’t call the liars out on it) are in my opinion the real problem. I’m looking at you, liberals, Liberals/NDP (Canada), DemRatMarxists/Rinos (U.S.), Environment Canada and the EPA, the IPCCC, all the lobbyists for the wind and solar companies etc. etc. etc.... there are too many to list out but you know who I’m talking about.
Y’all are really nice.
Shoot on sight might stop this horses-—t.
Leave him there.
I’m sure Fidel Junior approves.
****
Only downside would be the mess they'd make.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.