The contentious artwork, which is part of the Fletcher Exhibit, features Johnson against a backdrop of Nazi swastikas evolving into Christian crosses, among other contentious images linking conservatism, Trump, and Christianity to Hitler.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the Fletcher Exhibit, a tribute to former student Fletcher Dyer who died in 2009, encourages artists to create pieces addressing global issues. Campus Reform reports that the display also includes images of President-elect Donald Trump juxtaposed with swastikas, Adolf Hitler, and Ku Klux Klan symbols. Other pieces present conservative figures alongside antisemitic slogans such as "Jews will not replace us."
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One particularly controversial piece, aptly named Evolution, depicts Speaker Johnson with swastikas morphing into crosses. The artist behind the piece, Joel Gibbs, explained that his work critiques what he sees as a link between fascism and certain right-wing Christian groups. "The fascism we seem to have in this country has attached itself to extreme right Christian groups,” Gibbs stated, as per WJHL. “So I just figured by having a cross evolve into a swastika with him there smirking, it would sort of just give a, it’s a very large political cartoon in my sensibility.”
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The Reece Museum’s exhibit showcases over 90 pieces of art. While there is no official theme, exhibit co-director Carrie Dyer expressed her support for "artwork that advocates for democracy, voting rights, and confronts systemic racism." A portion of the proceeds from the exhibit contributes to a scholarship fund for an ETSU creative design student. However, the exhibit has not been without its critics, leading ETSU President Brian Noland to issue a statement addressing the concerns.
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“I am aware of the concerns that have been raised about works selected to appear in this year’s FL3TCHER EXHIBIT on display in the Reece Museum,” Noland acknowledged, according to WJHL. “As a Christian and the son of a veteran, I can say that I personally find some of the views expressed in this year’s exhibit abhorrent. However, as the president of a public university, which is bound by the laws of the State of Tennessee as well as the U.S. Constitution, I must ensure that our university adheres to state and federal law.”
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Noland further stated that he is seeking more information and plans to review the process through which guest artists, speakers, and other third-party groups are permitted to present information on campus. This incident underscores the ongoing debate about the intersection of free speech, artistic expression, and respect for differing political ideologies in academic settings.
