Mount Holyoke president tells LePage the labor mural removal is reminiscent of totalitarian regimes

[highplainsdem]

I found this article via the AFL-CIO blog:

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/03/30/removal-of-labor-mural-akin-to-action-by-totalitarion-regimes/


From the Seattle Times article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014627728_apuslabormural.html

Maine governor taken to task after mural removed
By CLARKE CANFIELD
Associated Press


PORTLAND, Maine —

The president of Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts sent a scathing letter Tuesday to Maine Gov. Paul LePage for removing a labor-themed mural from the Department of Labor headquarters as the status of the disputed artwork remains in limbo and its location remains a secret.

The 36-foot mural was taken down over the weekend after LePage said it was too biased in favor of organized labor and wasn't in line with his pro-business agenda. The mural was installed in 2008 and depicts Maine's long labor history with images of mill workers, labor strikes and child laborers among its scenes.

In a letter faxed to LePage's office, Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquarella said she has "grave concerns" about the decision to remove the mural, which includes a depiction of 1902 Mount Holyoke graduate and former U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins. The U.S Department of Labor in Washington is housed in the Frances Perkins Building, she said.

"I was particularly surprised to read that you were influenced by an anonymous fax comparing the 11-panel mural to North Korean political propaganda, because the act of removing images commemorating Maine's history itself conjures thoughts of rewriting history prevalent in totalitarian regimes," she wrote.

-snip-

There's been no comment from LePage on this criticism. He's in Florida, en route to Jamaica for a vacation.

[Maine-ah]

1. Removal of mural may have breached contract between artist, Labor Department

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/29/politics/maine-governor-taken-to-task-after-mural-removed/
(snip from the middle of the article)

A copy of a contract between the department and Taylor obtained by the Bangor Daily News specifies that “the artist and Commission will be notified if, for any reason, the work has to be removed or moved to a new location.” The contract then states that the artist and the commission have the right to “advise or consult” with the state regarding the relocation.

In past media reports, Taylor has stated that the administration has not contacted her about the mural’s relocation, adding Monday that she does not know where her artwork is being stored. The Maine Arts Commission has been in contact with the administration.

The final line of the contract states that the agreement “may be amended or modified only if in writing and signed by the parties.”

Portland attorney Jon Beal said he’s been meeting with artists and labor advocates and plans to file a lawsuit this week challenging the mural’s removal. Beal said he has sent emails to the governor’s office and the Maine State Museum stating his objections.

[JCMach1]

7. Lawsuit anyone? She could then dontate the proceeds to arts education in Maine!

[SpiralHawk]

2. Republicons need to have their brains washed out with hot soapy water

Americans do not want the Corporate-Totalitarian Republicon vision.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Totalitarian regime is what I thought of when I first read this story.

And their maniacal desire to name everything after their hero Ronald Reagan. That's the modern republican party. Like the old communist Chinese.

[OHdem10]

4. Exactly, I think most people with an understanding of history got

knots in their stomach.

[democrank]

5. LePage is truly frightening

[Shanti Mama]

6. That's my alma mater!

Not the best place for me, but an awesome place for learning to speak up and speak loud.

[jpak]

8. LePage will guffaw - show it to his 22 YO daughter (who makes $41K on his payroll)

and have it framed.

Like all Teabaggers he's a sociopath

and doesn't care

yup