In late March, 3 weeks out from the gallery opening of the Senior Student Design/Studio Art Exhibition, exhibiting students were informed by instructor, Jonathan Cooper, that a student would be displaying grotesque sexual content in the gallery alongside their work. The pieces were shown in class – a few paintings best described as porn of a small individual (allegedly intended to depict the student artist) in various sexual positions with characters from the anime, One Piece. The paintings display several forms of bondage and visible genitalia. The justification for this artwork, reported by Cooper, was (in short) to express the student's identity as a non-binary, asexual aromantic. Cooper went on to explain that the gallery would still be open to all ages, and visible genitalia would be censored but optionally visible to viewers who wish to see it. The work would also include a disclaimer that the small individual pictured is an of-age adult. This decision to include the inappropriate work was never formally reported to students or released in email, writing, or online in any way. 

Though the gallery itself may be open to all ages with a form of warning or censorship, we feel that it is no longer truly accessible to families and individuals -- including other exhibiting students -- sensitive to explicit content. Many students exhibiting their work have been led to do so on the expectation that Meadowbrook is a family friendly space where blatantly explicit content will not be displayed.

We believe that the inclusion of this content is disrespectful to hardworking students, some of whom have spent the semester tackling sensitive and important topics. We believe that the vulgarity of the artwork is not properly justified by the student artist’s intention. 

Additionally, we as students believe that the informal and short notice only 3 weeks before the exhibition opening is unfair, prompting added stress in the process of inviting family, friends, and professional connections. 

We are confused as to why a piece like this is allowed to be considered in a student exhibition traditionally attended by friends and family.