St Louis gallery cancels pro-Palestine exhibition, deeming it antisemitic
Craft Alliance, a nonprofit gallery in St. Louis, removed the exhibition "Planting Seeds, Sprouting Hope" by artists-in-residence Dani Collette and Allora McCullough, citing antisemitic imagery and slogans. The exhibition featured works including a keffiyeh-patterned glass bowl and watermelon-slice sculptures inscribed with "Land Back," a phrase tied to Indigenous land rights movements. Labels with titles "Indigenous to Palestine" and "From the River to the Sea" were also removed. Executive director Bryan Knicely stated the slogan was deemed violent based on his research and a volunteer's complaint. The artists were selected for an 11-month residency starting July 2023. Their teaching positions at Craft Alliance were also terminated. The gallery's statement on Instagram (June 24) referenced policies on anti-bullying, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Key facts
- Craft Alliance is a nonprofit gallery in St. Louis.
- Exhibition "Planting Seeds, Sprouting Hope" featured works by Dani Collette and Allora McCullough.
- The artists were selected as artists-in-residence for 11 months from July 2023.
- The gallery removed the exhibition citing antisemitic imagery and slogans.
- Works included a keffiyeh-patterned glass bowl and watermelon sculptures with 'Land Back'.
- Labels with titles 'Indigenous to Palestine' and 'From the River to the Sea' were removed.
- Executive director Bryan Knicely said the slogan was a call to violence based on his research.
- The artists' teaching positions at Craft Alliance were terminated.
Entities
Artists
- Dani Collette
- Allora McCullough
Institutions
- Craft Alliance
- St Louis Public Radio
Locations
- St. Louis
- United States
- Canada
- Australia