The museum removed works created by immigrants, leaving empty space on the walls, to protest against president Trump’s immigration policy.
About 20% of artworks in the permanent collection of the Davis Museum at Wellesley College (Massachusetts) were created by migrant artists and sculptures. The museum removed these works from display to emphasise the importance of diversity in art and the role of immigrants in American culture.
The action of solidarity with immigrants in the museum is held on President's Day, which is traditionally celebrated on the third Monday of February. Visitors can see bare walls where artworks created or donated by people born outside the US used to be displayed. Sculptures will be draped black cloth, and paintings will be replaced by labels reading “Created by an immigrant” or “Donated by an immigrant”.
Every fifth artwork in the museum’s permanent collection is there due to immigrants. The absence of works won’t go unnoticed, and the reason will be explained right on the wall. The situation is typical for most American museums and art galleries – they always have works by immigrants in their collections.
The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) used an opposite method for a similar aim. Instead of removing, they displayed artworks by artists from the countries whose citizens were banned from entering the US in accordance with Trump’s decree. An installation by Iranian-born American sculptor Siah Armajani was moved to a courtyard.
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