A Colorado man has placed himself in the center of a fight about free speech, about patriotism and about ceramic penises.
Bob Rowan is accused of stealing a string of 21 penis carvings from the Boulder Public Library’s art museum in November and leaving in their place an American flag.
The phalluses were part of a sculpture titled “Art Triumphs over Domestic Violence” by artist Susanne Walker. The exhibit was a part of a display to commemorate Domestic Violence Month, which is celebrated in October.
According to prosecutors, Rowan admitted to taking the art because it was obscene and not appropriate for children to see.ÿÿ And he was mad at the library’s director, who refused to let him hang an American flag in the library atrium.
But there’s a little more to this saga. It didn’t take very long for police to catch up with Rowan. This guy called a radio station and bragged about the theft, which he is using to draw publicity for his Web site. He has continued to use the charges against him to further his site and has appeared on at least 14 radio talk shows.
His site sells items that show a sombrero-wearing bandit surrounded by American and Mexican flags, and the slogan “Viva El Bandito.” Rowan said he will donate the proceeds from the sale of items to families of military personnel who die fighting terrorism abroad.
While it is noble of Rowan to want to raise money for this cause, his means of doing so are just a little out of line. Actually, it’s more than a little out of line. This guy is out of his mind and is using the patriotic spirit that is flourishing to promote censorship.
Having pride in our country is a good thing, and it’s something a lot more people are feeling since Sept. 11. Freaks like Rowan give patriotism a bad name.
By stealing the art, Rowan is blatantly defying one of the basic premises of our country, which is the freedom of expression. So he didn’t like the art. So he thought the art was obscene.
So what?
Personally, I find Rowan’s depiction of the flags on his merchandise far more offensive than a sculpture that signifies an event that has ruined thousands of lives. That doesn’t mean I’m about to steal his merchandise and then defend my actions by saying they were justified because I didn’t like the stuff.
When Rowan chose to steal the art, he went against the American spirit. There’s a little thing called the First Amendment that has done a pretty good job of protecting people who make art that isn’t popular, or write things that are not everyone wants to hear. People have been arguing for years about what makes something obscene, and nobody has come up with a clear and concise definition.
Yes, the penises were in a library. And you know what else is in a library? Books. Books filled with ideas that Rowan probably objects to also. It isn’t OK for him to destroy books that mention penises. It isn’t OK for him to steal what he doesn’t want others to see.
All indications are that Rowan intends to fight this one out. Prosecutors offered to give him a deal that would ban him from the library for one year and prohibit him from contacting Walker. Rowan declined and showed up to court to plead not guilty to second-degree criminal trespassing wearing a sweatshirt that said “Love our flag or leave our country.”
It might be Rowan who will have to learn to love his bright orange jumpsuit and who will leave his home if he is found guilty. He could be sentenced to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted. If Rowan gets what he deserves, he will serve his time and pay up.
And it wouldn’t hurt Rowan to learn that controversial sculpture isn’t necessarily unpatriotic or disgusting. There’s room for all sorts of art – strings of penises and sombrero-wearing bandits included.
