- Canine CellMates, which uses therapy dogs to help rehabilitate prisoners, was rebuked for using only black prisoners in its submission for a public art display
- One resident Shawn Deangelo Walton tore down the display and hopes it’s replaced with something more positive
- Canine Cellmates said it did not intend to be insensitive, but agreed that without context the imagery could be misunderstood
- One resident said ‘to go into a neighborhood that I think is 90 percent black and just put up these pics of black men as prisoners is a bit toxic’
A public art exhibit in Atlanta which caused outrage for reinforcing negative stereotypes against black prisoners has been torn down.
Atlanta BeltLine, which promotes redevelopment along the former railway corridor of the city showcased work from Canine Cellmates, a program that uses dogs to help rehabilitate prisoners. It featured photos only of black men involved in the program.
Shawn Deangelo Walton, who lives near the exhibit, was furious that the art installation was only helping to propagate ‘stereotypical images about black men being incarcerated’.
He tore down the display and is currently storing it in his home.
Other residents who live in proximity of the exhibit echoed Walton’s concerns, with one resident saying that ‘to go into a neighborhood that I think is 90 percent black and just put up these pics of black men as prisoners is a bit toxic’.
Leaders of Atlanta non-profit expressed ‘grave concerns’ over public art display – one of the photos is seen above
Canine Cellmates said in response that it did not intend to be insensitive, but agreed that without context the imagery could be misunderstood. One of the images is pictured above
Canine Cellmates said in response to complaints that it did not intend to be insensitive, but agreed that without context the imagery could be misunderstood.
Atlanta BeltLine told Channel 2 Action News on Monday it is ‘gravely concerned’ over the photos submitted.
BeltLine later said in a statement that the art was ‘was created to make art accessible to everyone by bringing the exhibit to public spaces and in doing so, be respectful of the community.
‘The photos that were displayed did not reflect our commitment to do that. The community is understandably and justifiably upset and for that we humbly apologize.
‘We make no excuses and are in the process of investigating the process of how this occurred in order to take the most appropriate action to ensure this does not happen again.’
Shawn Deangelo Walton (pictured) said he took down the display because it reinforces negative stereotypes
The exhibit, commissioned by Atlanta BeltLine, showcased work from Canine Cellmates, a program that helps rehabilitate prisoners
The exhibit was located on the Westside BeltLine Trail off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Atlanta.
Walton said he’d be happy to give back the banner to BeltLine leaders, but said he hopes that the exhibit would be replaced with images that give ‘an impression of education, progressive culture (and) dignity.’
It is unclear if Walton will face any legal repercussion following the incident.