UPDATE: Westfield Superintendent Issues Statement on Controversial Art Exhibit

(Photo courtesy of Jackie Lieberman, TAPintoWestfield.net)

A recent art exhibit created by several students at Westfield High School has drawn ire from the community and from police officers for depicting police brutality.

The exhibit was on display at a school district-wide art show at the Westfield High School gymnasium, from May 12 to May 14. The exhibit was titled “Law Enforcement - Police Brutality” and contained images of guns being pointed at unarmed and fleeing figures, and an image of a man stabbed in the back by a police badge, according to a report from TAPinto.net.

Dr. Margaret Dolan, Superintendent of Westfield Public Schools, issued a statement Friday regarding the controversial art exhibit at the recent district-wide art show earlier this week.

“I have worked closely with law enforcement for over 20 years and have the utmost respect for the men and women who put themselves on the line each day to keep our communities safe” Dolan said in the statement. “Our schools support and respect our police department and law enforcement officers. Our schools and police department work cooperatively daily and will continue to do so.”

The two and a half day art show featured hundreds of pieces of artwork from students across the Westfield Public School district.

“The art project in question included drawings and captions depicting different viewpoints on a current controversial issue which was chosen by a small group of students,” Dolan said in the statement. “The teacher was attempting to encourage the students to look at more than one side of an issue.”

The superintendent said one student drew a poster he had seen during “unrest” in another state and then wrote an observation that people “often rush to judgement before hearing what the real story is.”

Dolan continued, “I am sorry that information that has been passed along via social media and elsewhere has not told the entire story and has led some to believe that we do not respect law enforcement. We do, and we are teaching our students to do the same.”

The art exhibit has drawn significant criticism from the community and from police officers, many of which have flocked to the review section of a Facebook page about Westfield High School to comment on the exhibit.

“Blatant disregard for teaching morals and right and wrong of your own bylaws,” wrote one person commenting on the school’s Facebook page. “Should be sickened to allow such non sense (sic) to be taught to youth. To be entrusted (with) the minds of our future youth. Sadly common sense is not so common. I guess when you can literally buy an education and teach anymore this is expected.”

Another individual commented on the exhibit writing, “Disgusted with your prejudicial so-called display of art that promotes violence by labeling police as brutalists. Funny that all school teachers aren’t called sex offenders because of an occasional inappropriate relationship with students. Treat law enforcement the same way!”

The story of the art exhibit even garnered attention from media outlets, including Fox News Channel and Fox News’ Eric Bolling, who spoke about the exhibit on his Twitter account, and the story was also picked up by Mediaite.com

The art show was the 31st annual Westfield Public School District Art Show. The district-wide art show samples hundreds of pieces of artwork created by students in all 10 public schools and grades from kindergarten through 12th grade.