Students at Dartmouth College have stirred conversation with their innovative installation titled Something Rotten, displayed at the Black Family Visual Arts Center (BFVAC). This artwork, crafted by art students Erik Siegel and Roan Wade, features 20 moldy beef jerky sticks arranged in a smiley face, positioned on the wall dedicated to Leon Black and his family, who significantly funded the center.
Opened in 2012 with a generous $48 million donation from Black, a 1973 alumnus, the BFVAC has recently become the focal point of a heated discussion regarding its naming. Black's connections with Jeffrey Epstein have raised concerns, prompting calls from students and alumni to reconsider the name of the arts center. The installation was removed shortly after its debut on April 14, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the legacy of its benefactor.
The wall label accompanying Something Rotten humorously notes, "Ah man, the guy loved jerky. You didn't know?" This comment alludes to Epstein's extensive references to jerky in his communications, including an email discussing logistics related to Black. Wade, one of the artists, describes their work as a commentary on the long-standing issues of sexual violence and gender-based violence at Dartmouth, asserting that these problems predate and persist beyond Black's time at the institution.
Tricia Treacy, chair of the studio art department, indicated that the controversy primarily arose from the artwork's placement on the dedication wall, as opposed to its exhibition in the center's Nearburg Gallery, where other pieces from "Storage Room" are displayed. The impact of the installation in a different context remains a topic of speculation.
This artistic endeavor is part of a broader movement among students and alumni advocating for the removal of Black's name from the arts center. The college's board of trustees is set to discuss the matter during their upcoming meeting in June. However, many believe this response is insufficient, emphasizing that Black's financial contributions, influenced by Epstein, represent a troubling aspect of Dartmouth's history.
As the dialogue continues, it is evident that art can serve as a powerful medium for social commentary, prompting reflection and action regarding institutional legacies and accountability.