A climate activist named Joanna Smith has admitted guilt for defacing Edgar Degas's renowned ballerina sculpture exhibited at the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC. Smith made her plea on December 15 at the US District Court, as stated in a Department of Justice press release. She now faces a potential prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000.
The incident occurred on April 27 when Joanna Smith, accompanied by fellow climate activist Timothy Martin, entered the NGA carrying water bottles filled with paint. They proceeded to approach Degas's "La petite danseuse de quatorze ans" (Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, 1880), removing the paint-filled bottles from their bags and applying the paint to the sculpture's case and base, as detailed in the press release.
As paint dripped onto the surrounding floor, Smith delivered statements explaining her reasons for the act to onlookers. The announcement further reveals that Smith and Martin had researched the artwork extensively and intentionally singled it out. Prior to entering the National Gallery, they had recorded video statements outlining their motivations.
Following the vandalism, the NGA temporarily removed the sculpture from its exhibition for a period of ten days to carry out the necessary repairs. The cost of these repairs amounted to over $4,000, a higher figure than the previously reported $2,400. In May, both Joanna Smith and Timothy Martin faced charges of "conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit."
A spokesperson for the National Gallery of Art expressed gratitude towards the US Attorney's Office and the FBI for their handling of this significant act of vandalism, in response to Smith's admission of guilt.
While climate activists have recently targeted several well-known artworks in European and British museums, involving actions such as throwing canned soup at a Van Gogh, smearing mashed potatoes on a Monet, placing cake on the Mona Lisa, and even individuals attaching themselves to frames, the April incident marked the first high-profile act of this nature in a US museum. Smith and Martin, participating in the group Declare Emergency, sought to draw a connection between the girl depicted in the Degas sculpture and the children facing a future of climate catastrophe.
Following the filing of charges against Joanna Smith and Timothy Martin, fellow climate activists organized a demonstration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in protest, deeming the charges as "unjustifiably harsh." Simultaneously, in Congress, Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio, known for his association with "Hillbilly Elegy," introduced a bill named the "Consequences for Climate Vandals Act" earlier this month. If this bill is enacted, it would result in the doubling of the statutory maximum prison sentence for individuals found guilty of damaging art or other property on the premises of institutions like the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian museums, the Kennedy Center, and similar properties.
Joanna Smith's sentencing has been scheduled for April 3, 2024. On the other hand, Timothy Martin informed the Washington Post that he intends to reject a plea deal and plans to proceed to trial next year.
Selena Mattei
| ArtMajeur Magazine