“Reversing Vandalism”: Coping themes in a library's community art exhibit

In 2004 the San Francisco Public Library asked people to make art from vandalized books, many about homosexuality, for an exhibit entitled “Reversing Vandalism: Destroyed Books/Transformed into Art.” Over 200 people participated. Text in or accompanying art was coded using grounded theory, and themes were correlated statistically. One-third of participants described the vandal's negative motivations, especially his violence. About 40% of artists (especially those reporting emotional responses to vandalism) made art about transforming violence or damage, whether by making positive statements, making art, or healing vandalized humans. About another 40% of artists made art to counter prejudice: affirming free speech, people's similarity, or gay life. However, some emphasized the vandal's destructiveness or oppression of homosexuals. Participants who “let the piece make itself” were most likely to report emotional transformations. The way themes related to techniques and symbols used, perceived outcomes of making art, and demographic characteristics will be discussed.