Last week a dear friend was arrested. She suffered handcuffs, was finger-printed and treated like a criminal. This woman pays her taxes, eats healthily and goes to the gym every day. What crime could she possibly have committed?
A heinous crime. A crime of sharing her art in the City of New York. A crime of pasting a 3-inch sticker of her alter-ego Phoebe on a construction site. Let me take a minute to tell you about the vulnerability of Phoebe’s character. There is a softness to Phoebe that makes you want to stand in front of her and take all the blows. Phoebe is strength, she is whimsical, and she is currently strutting her stuff on the runways of Paris. Libby Schoettle and Bonnie Young recently collaborated for Bonnie Young’s Paris fashion show. Libby, Phoebe’s creator, meanwhile anxiously awaits her court date in New York.
So I got to thinking about art. About what it means to each of us. To me, it is the work of the great Masters – Leonardo Da Vinci, Frederick McCubbin, Paul Gaugin, Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol and Brett Whiteley. Art is whatever lifts my senses to another plane. It is Katherine Jenkins and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa singing Lakme (the flower duet) or Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach’s Suite for Solo Cello No 1 in G Major. It is watching ballet, coming across a wonderful piece of street art and reading an incredible book such as Anne Karenina. Art is a child laughing in delight at raindrops sliding down a window and butterfly kisses from a toddler. It is slow languid love-making on a Sunday morning. Art is a photograph that has you grasping at your chest or a landscape so striking you find your face wet with tears. Art is all these things to me and more. Art is the charming figure of Phoebe wondering what to wear or crying over other people’s pain. Art is the fabric of our souls.
We have a long history of persecuting artists. There is even a period in art history called the Period of Persecution where early Christian art was destroyed. Salman Rushdie has a price on his head for his book The Satanic Verses published in 1988. The Nazi regime deemed Jewish art as degenerate and legendary British actor and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin had trouble with US authorities for not being Anti-Red in the 1940s and 1950s.
Imagine then, my disgust, my horror when I hear news from my gentle friend half-way across the globe she has been arrested for pasting a picture of Phoebe. If we lived close, I would rant and rave. I would come to the court hearing. I would cry with frustration and to be honest, I probably would have been arrested alongside with Libby.
And so many miles from New York City, I offer my protest. Let us appreciate art in all its forms. For the enrichment it adds to our everyday lives. Take time to stop and appreciate and even photograph that stunning piece of street art on the side of your local corner store. Maybe it’s the crochet jacket a tree wears on your daily walk. Offer thanks for the people who feel so strongly about beauty and enriching the lives of others, that they risk their crime-free record, their squeaky-clean lives for the sake of bringing art to us all.
I first interviewed Libby Schoettle in November 2015, read that blog post here.
That seems so unfair ! I love the look of Phoebe and the sticker certainly improved the box. Lets hope the judge throws it out to concentrate on more severe crimes!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know it’s such a croc. Hoping to bring Phoebe to Perth. Fingers crossed we will be able to see this beautiful art right here xx ps see you next week?
LikeLike
Thank you for bringing light to this ridiculous situation in such a beautiful, poetic way. I’m sure, in all reasonableness, it will be thrown out of court. The good that comes from this though, is articles like yours that champions the freedom of speech and art. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a piece written from a place of pure frustration. How can they not see, like you, the utter ridiculousness of the situation? Honestly, it’s a world gone mad when an artist like Libby is treated so terribly. Thanks for reading and agreeing!
LikeLike
Love your words about art. Sad to hear this happened in a city that I love. Is the photo of where she posted the sticker? I understand why the city has these laws, but in this case the box would be quite an eyesore without the sticker.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was on the side of a building site which would be so ugly. I understand the municipal laws too but feel if something is clearly adding value it should stay. I’m about to bring Phoebe to Perth so it will be interesting to see where I will be able to put her. I spoke to the local government here yesterday and they weren’t overly helpful – guess I’m about to become a ‘vandal’ too!
LikeLike
Your passion shines in your words, dear Nadia, and this is indeed an example of Big Brother ruling. I do understand that sometimes we can’t share what we want to share but in this case, it seems ridiculous. Libby was only bringing colour to a stark corner of the city. Applause for you for bringing Phobe to Perth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Bev. And the things that really grates, it was a building site! Honestly, how ridiculous is that?!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally stupid 😧 hope you have more luck showcasing in Perth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope so but I think I’ll hide from cctv just the same!
LikeLike
You always inspire me with your passion, Nadia. It is absolutely ridiculous and sad. I can’t even imagine a world without art. It is so frustrating to know that there are people that can.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said Sarah. Too sad for words really.
LikeLike
I can relate to Phoebe and I’d gladly have her decorating my yard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d have her decorate the whole world if I could. Thanks for reading
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is really great Nadia! Is Phoebe now with you? I guess the thing with this kind of street art is that law can’t put beauty as its decision in making judgments. Sometimes people put something provocative and is probably a part of a propaganda that might be dangerous to society.
My friend is a street artist and he does his art past midnight to avoid the cops. He said that it was fun and thrilling, like fighting a guerilla war. Banksy-style. Hehe
But there are also people that paste drawing or paint with religion and political messages which are quite sensitive to some groups. Which lead to strikes, fights, and worse, murders.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Chita, yes I have some Phoebe stickers and I’ve put 2 up so far. Frankly, it’s hard to find a place good enough for her. Strikes etc shows the power of art. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. x
LikeLike