Mayor Alvin Brown won’t pull funding from a Downtown museum because of what one official calls a “pornographic” photograph, but where — if anywhere — the situation goes from here isn’t yet known.
City Council President Clay Yarborough asked Brown to take more than $233,000 from the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville for displaying a picture of a nude, pregnant woman in public view.
The mayor declined Tuesday, writing to Yarborough that city attorneys determined pulling the funding under the circumstances “would likely” violate the First Amendment rights of the museum and artist.
Though not in the mayor’s letter to Yarborough, Brown doesn’t think the photo is pornographic, according to his spokesman David DeCamp.
Yarborough said late Tuesday he would have a statement in response to Brown’s letter and any possible next move “within the next several days.”
The museum has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference today at the Downtown venue, where Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and museum officials “will speak about the events of last week and the future of the arts in Northeast Florida.” Abel Harding, Cultural Council board chair; Margaret Gellatly, museum board chair; and Marcelle Polednik, museum director, are scheduled to speak.
A protest against Yarborough’s comments and a rally for the arts community is scheduled to coincide with tonight’s Art Walk. As of this morning, close to 850 people said they would attend, according to the Facebook page highlighting the event.
That function began to pick up steam almost immediately after news broke last week of Yarborough’s stance and his request to Brown.
During that time, Yarborough also received emails of support and criticism for where he stood on the topic.
“Thank you so very much for taking a very important stand,” Diana McNeal wrote to him. “I would never want to take my child into a museum to see this.”
Todd Wloszczynski wrote that while he thought the picture wasn’t pornographic, “I do feel that it does not belong in a building that is tax funded. … I do not wish to see them in a place that can be frequented by young children.” Part of Yarborough’s stance came from the possibility of children seeing the piece.
Others were just the opposite.
“We see more skin in the pool at a Jaguars game,” wrote Cynthia Gaskin, who said she hoped Yarborough did more research on the subject.
Another emailer was more blunt: “Your attitude on this issue is prehistoric.”
General Counsel Jason Gabriel wrote in an email that based on federal case law, the city couldn’t remove the artwork based on what it may deem offensive — and couldn’t pull funding based on decisions or viewpoints with which it didn’t agree.
Brown said in his letter to Yarborough that he hoped the issue was over.
“I am hopeful that we can put this issue behind us so that the City can continue working with the arts and cultural community to revitalize Downtown, enhance our quality of life, and make Jacksonville a vibrant destination,” Brown wrote.
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