A Sacramento State Chicano artist resisted appeals to take down his library art exhibit, despite complaints from students and faculty that it is anti-Semitic.

Xico Gonzalez?s piece, “Free Palestine,” is part of the “Symbols of Liberation (SOL)” exhibit located on the second floor of the library.The piece depicts a blood-stained shawl with a Palestinian flag twisted around a blood-spattered Star of David.

“People are attacking me, accusing me of being anti-Semitic. In reality, the exhibit is anti-racism. Students went to the library dean and wanted it taken down,” Gonzalez said.

The interpretations of Gonzalez?s piece are at the forefront of the controversy that has surrounded “Free Palestine.”

Gonzalez said the piece is evenhanded in criticizing both sides of the Middle East conflict.

“The Star of David makes reference to Israel, and the shawl twisted around the Star of David represents Palestine. I splashed red paint on both the Star of David and the shawl to symbolize the violence on both sides of the conflict. It?s a continuous cycle of violence that is going on,” Gonzalez said.

The interim dean of the library, Tamara Frost Trujillo, and ethnic studies and multicultural librarian Kathryn Reyes met with Gonzalez to discuss removing the controversial piece from the exhibit.

“The purpose of the meeting was to ask me if I would take down the piece,” Gonzalez said.

Although Trujillo requested the removal of “Free Palestine,” she left the final decision up to Gonzalez in accordance with the library exhibit policy, which encourages freedom of expression.

“It was a request that the dean made to the artist. Based on the library?s policy regarding freedom of speech and censorship, we could not remove the piece.

“The request for removal was a gesture that the dean made toward the students who were concerned about the piece. In the end, it was up to the artist,” Reyes said.

What emerged from the meeting was the proposal of an open forum to discuss Chicano art and the controversial pieces displayed in the exhibit.

“Through the forum, I hope to open up dialogue among the opposing sides. My mission is to spread the word about the injustice that is going on in the world.

“Hopefully if we have dialogue, we can expand our minds and move past our ignorance to understand each other,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez insists that his depiction of the Star of David carries no religious connection, but students who complained didn?t agree.

“I would have liked to see the artist use his talents for something more positive. His work portrays a very negative message and it doesn?t help either side. The piece uses a symbol of our faith in a negative and hateful way,” said Julie Rehman, president of the Jewish Student Union.

Though she is unhappy with the exhibit, Rehman said she supports Gonzalez?s freedom of expression.

“I wouldn?t support the removal of the piece, but I would have liked to see a more positive way of expressing the message,” Rehman said.

The open forum will take place today in room 1522 of the library from 3-4 p.m.

Speakers will include Jose Montoya and Esteban Villa, emeritus professors in the art department and founders of the Sacramento-based Royal Chicano Air Force. A question and answer session will follow with Gonzalez and Mike Rodriguez, creators of the exhibit.

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