More oversight on San Mateo’s art exhibits

As part of the new draft policy, the city would prohibit art with overt political messages or those which create a hostile work environment for employees.

“[This] clarifies that city art galleries are for city expression, and they are not public forums. They are meant to enrich the experience of visitors to city facilities, but unlike public forums, they are not spaces where every single viewpoint or expression is allowed,” City Librarian James Moore said. 

Other changes include a review of all of the artists’ work they plan to showcase, rather than a sample, which was the previous modus operandi. The city manager and city librarian would also have to give the final stamp of approval on all work displayed. 

“Nobody was actually reviewing what was actually chosen to go up on the wall, so I think it’s important that we have specific people who view the art that is going on the wall and make sure what was approved is posted. I think that’s a must,” Councilmember Rich Hedges said. 

One of the controversial pieces in Rios’ exhibit showed a police officer with the phrase “Will Kill Blacks and Mexicans Cheap” written below. Another displayed an individual with raised hands and the phrases “Stop Killing Us” and “Police Stop” shown on the top and bottom, respectively. 

But Rios maintains he deserves an apology from the city for how it handled the incident. After initially offering to switch out the two pieces in question, he later found out through a Fox News reporter that all of his work was taken down instead, he said.  

“I offered to switch out the artwork. I’m a political artist. I do this all the time. But no, my artwork was just rudely taken off,” he said to councilmembers during the meeting. “This all could have been avoided if there was a little more communication, and I had been dealt with a lot more politely.” 

The apology request will likely stay unfulfilled, however, as several councilmembers supported sending a letter of apology to the police department instead. They also agreed unanimously with most of the policy updates.  

“I recognize that the art that I seek out in my private life is different, and should be different, than city speech, and I appreciate the mechanism we’re putting into place providing checks with our city manager and our city librarian,” Mayor Amourence Lee said.