San Mateo creates new policy for art exhibitions

The city reassessed their art exhibit policy after approving Diego Marcial Rios’ work for exhibition in San Mateo City Hall. The exhibition was part of a citywide program that showcases artists’ work in the San Mateo Main Library and City Hall; however, not long after Rios put the finishing touches on the display, complaints about two pieces in particular quickly made their way to city staff.  

“I said I’d be more than happy to switch them out. I’m a political artist. I’ve had 500 exhibitions in the last 30 years … just tell me the pieces you want me to switch out,” Rios said, acknowledging it’s not uncommon for him to receive those types of requests when displaying his work in similar spaces. 

One of the controversial pieces shows a police officer with the phrase “Will Kill Blacks and Mexicans Cheap” written below. Another was comprised of an individual with raised hands and the phrases “Stop Killing Us” and “Police Stop” shown on the top and bottom of the piece, respectively. 

But Rios soon discovered that not only was his entire display taken down, but two other artists’ exhibits were removed as well. 

“After Mr. Rios’ artwork was installed, concerns were raised about the exhibit by numerous people in the community, including members of the public and staff from several departments throughout the organization. These complaints prompted us to take a closer look at the Library’s entire program to better understand its administration and selection process,” according to a statement provided by the city. “By the time the city was finally able to reach and speak to Mr. Rios, the decision to temporarily suspend the entire program had already been made.”

Rios said the explanation he received for the program’s suspension was that his art made some people uneasy.

“Isn’t that the purpose of artwork?” he said, also adding he wanted an official apology from the city. 

Rory McMilton, treasurer at the Police Officers’ Association, acknowledged the incident could have been handled better but maintained there are places where certain messages, even if embedded in art, are inappropriate. 

“When you hang this in the City Hall, which is one of our workplaces, there’s a level of hostility that comes along with that. It’s completely not representative of San Mateo County and cops as a whole,” said McMilton, who had briefly chatted with Rios the day he was hanging up his artwork in City Hall. “It’s not a place to hang politically divisive art. You can post that art 99% of the time anywhere else, and you wouldn’t have a problem from the POA.”

Rios’ more divisive pieces were not included in the original sample provided to the selection committee, but he said that a cursory review of his portfolio could have provided them with a better understanding of what to expect. 

“How could you not know that I’m a political artist?” he said. “How could you not just google ‘Diego Marcial Rios’ and then get a gazillion news articles and images of who I am?”

In light of the Library Board’s feedback, San Mateo City Council will review the new draft policy Monday, Nov. 20.