Trump aside, Artists and preservationists debate the rush to topple statues

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Robin Pogrebin and Sopan Deb

A toppled Confederate statue in Durham, N.C., on Monday. Credit Virginia Bridges/The Herald-Sun, via Associated Press

Mark Bradford, the renowned Los Angeles artist, says Confederate statues should not be removed unless they are replaced by educational plaques that explain why they were taken away. But others argue that removing a statue from its place of origin diminishes the power of its historical significance. And there are those who warn against rashly removing public art without thoughtful and thorough public discussion. “If this whole conversation is about the history of this country, then you have to talk about the history of this country,” Mr. Bradford, said. “Don’t just leave these empty spaces. Contextualize the action. I don’t feel like that can be rushed.” [More]