An Update...

I am pleased to be able to report that my Fine Art Photography project is back on display at BYU.

As many of you know, it was removed without notice to me last Friday. I posted a response to that action on this personal blog as well as my photography blog. While I was of course frustrated that the work was removed, I also hoped that it, and this situation, would prompt more discussion. This has now happened, and I'm very pleased about it.

Today BYU released an official statement which reads in part as follows:

"A miscommunication among administrators of BYU's College of Fine Arts and Communications led to a student's photography project being removed late Friday afternoon. When that action became apparent after the weekend, college administrators reviewed the decision. Because the project does not violate BYU's Honor Code, the photographs were re-hung with the student's permission Tuesday afternoon."

I thank the leadership of BYU's College of Fine Arts and Communications for their willingness to reconsider and then reverse the initial decision to remove the artwork. The whole point of my project and the exhibit was to promote dialogue and discussion and, I hoped, increased understanding among those who might otherwise feel their differences were too great to overcome. I think the administration's action has been a good example of that increased understanding. I hope that all students, faculty, staff and guests who can now view the project again will follow that example and will also be prompted to the same kind of respectful consideration, tolerance and willingness to reconsider personal perspectives.