Time’s Up on Earl: An Open Letter
On September 5, 2020, Time Space Limited (“TSL”) opened “The Earl Show,” a retrospective dedicated to the late Earl Swanigan. “Earl” was the Hudson-based artist well known for the surreal, absurd, often kitschy paintings displayed in windows up and down Warren Street. Earl died in January 2019.
Ultimately, the people of Hudson will not remember Earl for his art, but as a sexual predator, a serial groper and domestic violence perpetrator. His abuse of people in Hudson is well known and documented. Indeed, the Hudson Police Department has turned over reports made by people in Hudson detailing Earl’s abusive behavior. It was a long-time open secret.
It is therefore difficult to understand why, in this #MeToo moment, TSL would choose to amplify a known misogynist and perpetrator of sexual harm. We do not accept the notion that our community can celebrate Earl’s art while ignoring his crimes and abusive behavior. Doing so only serves to silence and marginalize Earl’s victims. We call on our community to boycott The Earl Show. We can choose believing and supporting survivors over venerating the man who harassed and assaulted them. We can choose to stand in solidarity with survivors who risked everything by coming forward so that their efforts to protect themselves and seek justice were not in vain. We can send a loud, clear message to TSL: time’s up on overlooking Earl’s abusive behavior because we like his art. We can send a loud, clear message to every person in our community: time’s up on tolerating sexual assault.
From the Board of WiseBodies