Maine Department Of Labor Quietly Removes Mural Over The Weekend

WASHINGTON -- The Maine Department of Labor quietly took down a mural depicting the state's labor history over the weekend, after Gov. Paul LePage (R) sparked controversy last week by ordering it removed and saying it was biased against businesses and employers.

“The mural has been removed and is in storage awaiting relocation to a more appropriate venue," said LePage Press Secretary Adrienne Bennett in a statement provided to The Huffington Post. "Workers and employers need to work together to create opportunity for Maine's 50,000 unemployed. We understand that not everyone agrees with this decision, but the Maine Department of Labor has to be focused on the job at hand."

"This is government censorship at its worst," said state Rep. Diane Russell (D), who has been an outspoken advocate on labor rights.

The mural will be moved to the Portland City Hall, according to the governor's office. State Rep. Ben Chipman, whose district includes the city hall, said, “While I do not agree with the governor’s decision to remove the mural, locating it to the site of the original Maine State House where it can be on public display and continue to be owned by the people of Maine will allow it to receive the recognition and appreciation it deserves." The city council will have to hold a public hearing on the matter and accept the mural on loan.

According to The Sun-Journal in Maine, "Labor Department employees seemed surprised to see [the] mural replaced by bare walls and spackling. Several popped into the waiting area as news about the sudden removal spread."

The mural, created by local artist Judy Taylor, depicts various scenes from Maine's labor history, including "Rosie the Riveter" at Bath Iron Works and a paper mill workers' strike in 1986.

The governor has said that he wants the mural out of the Department of Labor because it doesn't fairly depict the perspective of employers: "Were the bosses in the mural? Were the employers in the mural? History is about two sides ... I think it's inappropriate for [the mural] to be in the Department of Labor when everyone comes in, employers and employees, and they're confronted by one side of the question."

The mural was erected in 2008, after the Maine Arts Commission chose Taylor's piece through a jury selection.

Taylor told The Huffington Post that the reactions she has received to her art have always been "very very positive" -- from both business leaders and workers alike. She noted at one point, a businessman told her he was particularly moved by the painting because it reminded him of his grandmother's stories about working at a textile mill.

On Friday, LePage's office sent out a press release asking for new artwork "that depicts the cooperative relationship that exists between Maine’s job creators and the workers who power Maine’s economy" that can be displayed in the Labor Department's administrative offices and in the lobbies of career centers around the state.

In addition to the mural being removed, LePage's office also ordered the names be changed on eight rooms in the Department of Labor, many of which commemorate former labor leaders and one of which honors the first female U.S. Cabinet secretary.

LePage's office originally said that the governor made his decision after complaints from businesses owners, eventually pointing to a single anonymous letter, in which the author said that when looking at the mural, he or she felt like it was something from "communist North Korea."

In an e-mail to The Huffington Post, Bennett also pointed to a Sunday blog post by Mike Violette, a conservative radio host in Maine, along with other anonymous statements from employers who support what LePage is doing and believe the mural has helped make the Department of Labor a "militant, angry, business-hating environment."

There have been several protests at the Department of Labor, and one attendee suggested forming a human chain to block the mural's removal. When asked by WCSH 6 what he would do if protesters did indeed form a chain, LePage replied, "I'd laugh at them, the idiots. That's what I would do. Come on! Get over yourselves!"

Comments

[GardenerNorCal]

08:57 AM on 04/11/2011

This is an unbelievable direction for our governments to be taking. Who would have thought that censorship of this sort would become the norm in the twenty first century.

" "Were the bosses in the mural? Were the employers in the mural? History is about two sides ... I think it's inappropriate for [the mural] to be in the Department of Labor when everyone comes in, employers and employees, and they're confronted by one side of the question.""

Were the citizens polled before it was taken down, or was it only the sentiments of the "bosses" which were considered?

[Disclaimer]

02:32 AM on 04/05/2011

These tea-bagging Republicans extremists are no different than the Taliban. Remember when the Taliban destroyed the archeological treasures of the Buda’s in Afghanistan just because they could? Why would this fool of a Governor want to insult workers everywhere by removing Rosie the Riveter? Have they no decency and respect??? Shame!

[madame48]

04:51 PM on 04/02/2011

he probably hired some children at 50 cents and hour to take it down...that's the direction he sees for Maine

[shar]

06:46 PM on 03/31/2011

"The Maine Department of Labor quietly took down a mural depicting the state's labor history over the weekend, after Gov. Paul LePage (R) sparked controversy last week by ordering it removed and saying it was biased against businesses and employers."

This is one of the most absurd statements I've ever read. As an H/R generalist, biz owner, biz mgr., career counselor, temporary supervisor, professional recruiter, ie both an employee and employer, the one thing I can say for certain is -- we've all been employed by someone (unless inheriting our position within a family biz where we've started out as the owner) or we haven't worked. This bit of insight was crucial to my success in hiring a dream team, guiding an individual to make a career change, working with emloyers to create an efficient atmosphere of camaraderie toward accomplishing an objective or taking a temp job myself for whatever reason.

Every employer was/is an employee. They've experienced looking for and being hired into a position requiring a specific skill set and may experience it again. The only person who doesn't understand this, is a person who has never been employed.

[erix]

06:28 PM on 03/31/2011

What a fat C*U*N*T. He couldn't more accurately depict the heavy hand of fat cat corruption.

[dixdarlin]

06:15 PM on 03/31/2011

Was it written by Glenn Beck?

[HP ME]

11:14 PM on 03/30/2011

MPBN Article - 03/30/2011 - Location of Labor Mural Spurned by Gov. LePage is Divulged
"Ever since Gov. Paul LePage ordered the removal of the labor history mural from the lobby at the Maine Department of Labor over the weekend, the mural's new location has been kept secret. Until now."

"Not surprisingly, a spokesman for the governor's office would neither confirm nor deny that the mural is at the DOL."

Oooh...Just like the CIA. This must be one dangerous mural...

[kathyWW]

06:22 PM on 03/30/2011

A previous article stated that no business owners or leaders ever go there. It's the LABOR department. Although, the artist shouldn't have anything to say about it, after she's been paid.

[HP ME]

03:39 PM on 03/30/2011

Maine Public Broadcasti­­ng Network Article - Mural Artist Decries Removal of Work From Maine DOL - 03/30/2011 03:07 PM
http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineHeadlineNews/tabid/968/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3479/ItemId/15804/Default.aspx
"In a statement on her Web site, Judy Taylor says it's "heartbreaking" that the controversy may have started with an anonymous letter comparing the mural's images of Maine's labor history to propaganda in North Korea."

This artist and her art certainly deserved better.

[capercaper]

04:12 PM on 03/30/2011

And they certainly shall receive it -- in another venue.

What's so unfortunate is that the protesters are trying to PREVENT it's move and display in other, more appropriate (and more trafficked) areas!

On Friday, Gov. LePage announced that the mural would be heading to Portland City Hall pending approval by the Portland City Council. But Mayor Nick Mavodones expressed some concerns about assuming responsibl­ity for the mural and the controvers­y. And Portland's director of communicat­ions says since then, councilors have received dozens of emails and phone calls asking the city not to accept it

Adrienne Bennett, a spokeswoma­n for Governor LePage says there are other interested parties willing to take the mural if Portland doesn't work out. "We're not going to comment on those interested parties at this time, obviously, because it brings them into this controvers­y as it is right now ,and we just think that it would be inappropri­ate for us to release those names."”

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MPBNNews/tabid/1159/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3762/ItemId/15776/Default.aspx

[HP ME]

06:17 PM on 03/30/2011

From the article...

"Maine artist Judy Taylor of Tremont today released a statement on her Web site expressing dismay at the removal of her 36-foot mural from Maine's Department of Labor lobby."

So she obviously believes that the mural was already in the the most appropriate venue, (since it was commissioned and created for that space, context, and purpose) and objects not only to its removal, but to the way that the governor has done it. Many have questioned that the governor has the authority to do what he has done, since the Maine Museum Commission appears to be the entity that has responsibility for the mural.

The article doesn't seem to say what those that have emailed the City of Portland are objecting to. Are they more conservatives that would not want the mural to be displayed at all, are they people that sincerely feel that it is not as appropriate a venue (and it has been called only a temporary home for the mural anyway), or are they citizens who feel that Portland should not accept it to put pressure on the governor and the rest of Maine government to return the mural to the place that they believe it belongs--the Department of Labor Building in the state capital--all of the above and more.

That the mural has been put into storage and is not currently viewable, and it is uncertain when it will be on display again, has added insult to injury.

[HP ME]

07:10 PM on 03/30/2011

I don't think that it is fair to lay the blame for the controversy surrounding the removal of the mural on the protesters. Given the way the governor handled it, the protests should have been entirely predictable. Given the other controversial comments that the governor has made since taking office a few months ago ("kiss my butt" to the NAACP, of women growing little beards due to BPA in plastic, etc.), he seems to thrive on this kind of attention and notoriety. Many believe that his actions on the mural were intended as a provocation.

[Kathleen Morse]

09:52 PM on 04/24/2011

HP ME, If I were Judy Taylor I would be very afraid. Like the Chinese artist Ai WeiWei she may "disappear " until the government of Maine decides whether she will continue her subversive behavior. You may sign a petition on Change.org to the Chinese government to free Ai WeiWei. After the first 100,000 signatures the site was cyber attacked by China but they are up and running now. Sign and let China know that even though corporate America turns it's eyes away from China's human rights violations American citizens do not. HP ME, Thank you with all my heart for the opening. Kathleen

[madgrrl]

01:16 PM on 03/30/2011

Why should "bosses" be depicted on a labor mural? and if they were I doubt it would be very flattering. what could possibly be the most positive light bosses could be depicted? standing over their employes? looking over their shoulder?

[madgrrl]

01:13 PM on 03/30/2011

The rooms on the dept of labor should be changed to represent the corporate sponsors of the room. That would be a great revenue generator don't you think? No more pesky labor organizers who don't give big campaign contributions! They could just sell room to different corporate or brands sponsors such as the: trojan room, tylenol room, depends room, Victoria Secret room... add your own here:

[moutonnoir]

04:48 PM on 03/30/2011

in wisconsin they just branded the entire capital the koch-pit!

[HP ME]

12:22 PM on 03/30/2011

Maine Public Broadcasti­ng Network Article - Maine Governor Takes Vacation Break - 03/30/2011 - Gov. Paul LePage is heading to Jamaica, a favorite vacation spot of his.
http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineHeadlineNews/tabid/968/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3479/ItemId/15797/Default.aspx
"Maine's self-described workaholic governor is taking a break, heading away to Jamaica for a week."

Revising history is must be hard work...

[VBH1622]

08:35 AM on 03/30/2011

Didn't know that the Department of Labor was supposed to represent the employers. Thought their fairness and magnanimity were the reason a Department of Labor was needed in the first place! You know, to stand up for those who labored.

Let's all goose-step back to the nineteenth century.

[capercaper]

09:07 AM on 03/30/2011

The US Dept of Labor represents all laborers, including those who own and labor in their own businesses.

[Lucy1886]

09:23 AM on 03/30/2011

So whom do the various "Department of Commerce" agencies represent? Shall we rename all the highways named after Henry Ford (who did help fund anti-Antisemitism in Germany) and Carnegie (who boasted that he could hire half the working class to kill the other half?).

Conservatives always demand "fairness and sharing" when they want SOMEONE ELSE'S HALF -- but conveniently forget about that and talk about "open competition" when they don't want to share their stuff.

Liars.

[Aaron Pozdol]

09:43 AM on 03/30/2011

That's not what this article was about - read it again. It specifically states that "the Governor has said that he wants the mural out of the Department of Labor because it doesn't fairly depict the perspective of employers". That means those who employ others labor to generate profit, by definition. Labor departments are for workers, Commerce departments are for employers. Just another example of myopia from some...

[justlw]

08:20 AM on 03/30/2011

Why when I hear "mural has been removed" do I think "barn wall has been repainted again" ?

[madgrrl]

01:18 PM on 03/30/2011

I think of the period in history (was it the reformation?) when the religious nuts painted clothing and fig leaves on all the nudes in paintings and sculpture. Also, book burning comes to mind - basically any idea that does not fit their agenda - they destroy!

[HP ME]

02:35 AM on 03/30/2011

Another Maine Public Broadcasting Network Article - Mural Comes Down at Governor's Request But Dispute Continues - 03/28/2011 [Including images of the entire mural.]
http://www.mpbn.net/News/MPBNNews/tabid/1159/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3762/ItemId/15776/Default.aspx
"My main hope is that the mural does not go into the dark," said Judy Taylor. She is the artist who spent a year researching, planning and painting the labor history mural.
"And that's all I can really say for it right now," Taylor said. "I mean it is gone from the Department of Labor. It's horrible. I don't know - I don't know how I feel about where it's going. I just don't want it to disappear."

[capercaper]

09:04 AM on 03/30/2011

Perhaps the protesters should speak with the artist to tell her THEY are pressing for it's disappearance from a more appropriate venue (from the article for which you provide the link above:)

On Friday, Gov. LePage announced that the mural would be heading to Portland City Hall pending approval by the Portland City Council. But Mayor Nick Mavodones expressed some concerns about assuming responsiblity for the mural and the controversy. And Portland's director of communications says since then, councilors have received dozens of emails and phone calls asking the city not to accept it

Adrienne Bennett, a spokeswoman for Governor LePage says there are other interested parties willing to take the mural if Portland doesn't work out. "We're not going to comment on those interested parties at this time, obviously, because it brings them into this controversy as it is right now ,and we just think that it would be inappropriate for us to release those names."