I was there, right in the middle of it, so I’m not opining second hand. I’m talking about the “Must See TV” performance art displayed by dozens of people in the Farmer’s Market area and in front of the city market building last week. You likely know about it by now; the exercise where people were to sit silently, watching the blank screen of a television set for five minutes. If a passersby asked what they were doing, participants were to reply, “I’m watching TV.”
Local performance artist Beth Deel, who’s been known to artistically “push the envelope,” at times, called it a “way to slow down time with an action and see what the interpretation is. Its really in the spirit of improv,” she said.
Even some of the organizers weren’t sure what the message was supposed to be. But that’s the point of art, whether it hangs on a wall, stands in a plaza – or involves people staring at blank TV’s. The way Roanoke City Councilman David Trinkle explained it on Monday – his wife took part – the group was careful not to assemble in large bunches, thus avoiding the need for a permit.
If the Star City aims to position itself as an arts-friendly town, one that welcomes artists of all stripes and ages, we should make sure certain Roanoke City police officers are in on the secret.
So, what happened? Officer Bill Lucas and company overreacted to the fact that several young people were sitting on the sidewalk in front of the market building last Thursday.
Brooke Rosel was sitting there “watching” her television when Lucas barked at her to get up.
“It wasn’t to be negative in any way,” said Rosel afterwards.
Lucas threatened to fine and arrest her, said Rosel. “He was very, very rude.” Other officers “laughed,” she said, when they were let in on what was taking place.
One young woman, Katherine Gwaltney, stayed in character when Lucas asked her for ID, saying “wait, this is the best part!” as if she was obsessed with whatever was playing on her (blank) portable TV. That probably wasn’t a good move – when a cop asks for something, the better choice is to accommodate them. But Lucas and a fellow officer were totally over the top, yelling about keeping the sidewalks free for pedestrians and barking at some observers to turn off their video recorders or to move along.
“Freedom of speech!” became the rallying cry, as Lucas cuffed Gwaltney and took her to the paddy wagon for a free ride to jail – hauling her portable TV under one arm.
“Looks like the Roanoke cops were just in a bad mood today,” said Matt Ames, “Its just ridiculous.”
City Manager Darlene Burcham has called the incident “unfortunate.” Trinkle said he hopes to see more performance art in the streets of Roanoke soon and fellow council member Gwen Mason decried Police Chief Joe Gaskins for (once again) displaying his fortress-like mentality by not coming out and making a statement, days after the incident.
Whether they intended to or not Roanoke City sent the wrong message last week: that only a more mainstream presentation of art is acceptable – that one should go spend their money to look at paintings hanging at the Taubman perhaps – and that youthful ideas involving performance art need not apply here. If I’m a young person on the fence about staying in Roanoke and was a witness to the market incident – or if I’ve seen it on YouTube by now – I’m not sure I’d have a favorable opinion of Roanoke. What about tourists or conventioneers visiting from Hotel Roanoke? What kind of impression do you think they walked away with?
Some of those involved with “Must See TV” have held off the cuff, permit-less events in the past, like racing big wheels through parking garages. Maybe there is a way they could tip off the city in the future that, “hey, this what we want to do….” In any case, the Roanoke City Police Department overreacted big time and came off looking foolish in the process.
Up until last week Roanoke had made tremendous strides as an art encouraging community, but we need to decide (and our government and the enforcers of our laws need to reflect our decisions) how tolerant we want to be when it comes to the arts. What type of arts? How welcoming are we willing to be towards young artists and others that support them? Where is the line between “flexible interpretation of a law” and real concern for public safety?
Then we need to let everyone in on the secret – starting with some of those apparently humorless, non-art loving police officers.
“I think sometimes fear makes people overreact,” said Beth Deel, who thought Lucas might have thought it was a political demonstration. “Hopefully we can get it all straightened out.”
