Court art removed after complaint

Olympia man claims collages on walls were discriminatory

By Keri Brenner | The Olympian • Published March 18, 2008

TUMWATER – Photo collages on the walls of the Thurston County Family and Juvenile Court building were taken down Monday after an Olympia resident complained they discriminated against men.

"When you go into that court, you're in a very vulnerable state," Jamie Powell said after he raised the issue Monday at the Thurston County commissioners' public meeting. "When you go in there and see that kind of thing, how does that make you feel about your chances of being treated fairly?"

The five wood-framed collages included photos and writings about domestic violence and wife abuse, along with a national domestic violence help-line number at the bottom of each one. They had been on display for four years.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Wickham said Monday he received the collages from a state official at a domestic violence summit four years ago. Wickham said he put the artwork aside because he did not feel comfortable displaying the pieces.

"I would not have put them up myself for exactly those reasons," Wickham said, referring to concerns such as Powell's. "We try very hard not to present the appearance of favoring one side or the other."

He said staff members at the time felt the artwork was acceptable and chose to display it. He declined to say who made that decision.

Wickham said he didn't think the collages were discriminatory, but added, "I think I understand how someone could get that impression."

One photo showed a man with a white shirt and black hat, suspenders and pants standing on a ledge facing a clouded sky, communing with the heavens.

The writing said, "How can such a God-fearing man have such a husband-fearing wife?" At the bottom, a typewritten note said, "Good deeds in the community don't offset violent acts in the house."

Another photo had a sad-faced boy looking out the window of a car, with the words: "Growing up in a small town, he's safe from many of life's influences. Of course, we're still trying to do something about his father."

At the bottom, it said: "Children in violent homes are more likely to get involved in violent relationships."