Newly released text messages between University of North Texas (UNT) leaders show administrators are concerned about “any rants coming out of Austin” over plans to cancel an exhibition of artwork critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Urgent matter Communications reportedly showed that school president Harrison Keller and provost Michael McPherson were discussing “Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá,” an exhibition of work by Brooklyn-based artist Victor Quiñonez, just a week before the show was canceled in February.
Related articles
“Our group met this morning regarding the gallery exhibition. We believe that all works of note can be removed and the remainder of the exhibition can proceed. Do you agree?” McPherson reportedly wrote to Keller, who responded thanking him for his help.
McPherson later apologized, writing that the school “was ahead of the curve” on the controversy. She later sent another message expressing concern that photos of the artwork with anti-ICE messages could circulate before being removed.
“I think it would be easier to handle any rants coming from our friends in Austin,” McPherson said, referring to the Texas capital. “There may be some people who are uncomfortable with the censorship. UBSC is prepared to address such concerns.”
Urgent matter Documents related to the exhibition were also disclosed, including an email sent on Feb. 10 in which UNT leaders discussed how to announce the end of the exhibition to students.
Art professor Nicole Foran wrote in an email chain that a student told her that the windows at UNT’s School of Visual Arts and Design Gallery, where the work was installed, had been blocked. The student reportedly asked whether the show would still be open, prompting Foran to ask university leadership how she should respond.
“Here’s what I’m telling the front desk staff: The gallery is closed this week and we’ll have more information later,” responded Heidi Strobel, associate dean for academic and student affairs.
School dean Karen Hutzel later added: “It’s working. We’ll have more information once we have new shows to announce, so it’s a real statement.”
A document outlining the policies and practices of the Visual Arts and Design Gallery at the new University of North Texas where the work was scheduled to be shown details how the university canceled the exhibition despite censorship.
“CVAD Gallery is committed to the principles of free speech, artistic freedom, and other aspects and will not censor our exhibitors or their content,” the document states. “For works that may elicit strong reactions, CVAD Gallery Directors and Curators will share information about potential content issues with the CVAD Dean.”
In a Feb. 12 email to gallery director Stefanie Dlugosz-Acton, Hutzel provided Boston University with a boilerplate cancellation notice for an exhibition that debuted at the university last fall that included the following lines: “Personalized greeting, without expression of regret or apology. I am writing to inform you that the university is terminating its art loan agreement with the Boston University Art Gallery for the exhibition titled “Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá.”” The email template continued, UNT “All terms and conditions set forth in the agreement related to the termination will be met, including making shipping arrangements and paying any amounts owed to Boston University.”
Huetzel also emailed DeLugos-Acton a template to send to Quiñones that suggested a “personalized greeting without an expression of regret or apology.”
“The university is making arrangements for the exhibit to be returned to Boston University,” the email reportedly read. “Any exhibit-related activities are no longer required. However, if you have incurred travel expenses related to the exhibit, please let us know for reimbursement.”
Leaked faculty meeting minutes denton chronicle record Huetzel said the cancellation was an “institutional directive” but declined to reveal its source. Colleagues were warned to prepare for a “media storm,” according to records.
In leaked transcripts, Hartzell reportedly told employees that while the school’s administration may be spared the reputational fallout, the college itself may face scrutiny from elected officials with the power to allocate or withhold state funds.
Amid escalating ideological conflicts over university programs, Republican lawmakers in Texas have used the budget to eliminate faculty and administrative positions and cut academic offerings, as seen recently at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.
During the meeting, an official with the CVAD department reportedly asked Hutzel whether UNT’s legal team would refuse to represent faculty despite their constitutional right to free speech.
“I do not believe the university will deploy legal counsel to protect individual faculty and staff,” Hartzell responded. “I don’t think we’ve seen this anywhere else. I’m just being honest. It’s not an absolute answer, but that’s my understanding.”
art news University leadership and the UNT Art Museum have been contacted for comment.
