The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. recently experienced a shocking act of protest, as climate change activists targeted the famous sculpture “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” by Edgar Degas. The FBI has now joined the investigation to bring those responsible to justice and prevent further incidents.
Protesters smeared paint on the case and pedestal of Edgar Degas’s “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” sculpture in the National Gallery of Art in D.C. to bring attention to the climate crisis and demand that President Biden declare a climate emergency. https://t.co/FWiuFqJzId pic.twitter.com/8AQkeIWlQH
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 27, 2023
Degas Sculpture Defaced in Climate Change Protest
On Thursday, climate activists Tim Martin from Raleigh, North Carolina, and Joanna Smith from Brooklyn, representing the group Declare Emergency, smeared red and black paint on the Plexiglas enclosure housing the renowned sculpture. They expressed their concerns about climate change and urged President Joe Biden to take serious action.
Art Restoration Experts Assess the Damage
In the wake of the protest, the National Gallery of Art has called upon experts to assess the actual sculpture for any potential damage. The gallery’s director, Kaywin Feldman, released a statement condemning the vandalism: “We unequivocally denounce this physical attack on one of our works of art and will continue to share information as it becomes available.”
Climate Change Protests Spreading to the U.S. Art Scene
Throughout 2022, activists targeted high-profile artworks across Europe to raise awareness about climate change. This latest protest at the National Gallery of Art marks the arrival of such activism in the United States. With the FBI’s involvement in the investigation, it remains to be seen how authorities will handle this new wave of climate activism and its impact on the art world.