Poster Boy in Downtown Brooklyn's Criminal Court Monday
And Maybe on Rikers Island
New York City, NY 11201
United States of America
What did Poster Boy, aka Henry Matyjewicz, do to get thrown in the clink? It depends on who you ask. The law says criminal mischief. Matyjewicz and his lawyer say art.
Poster Boy rearranges posters on subway platforms. Picasso with a razor, he dissects posters and creates collages that make social and political statements. See his work here.
A year on Rikers seems excessive as Poster Boy's art is physically harmless and Rikers is dangerous. The New York Times reports death, sexual abuse, suicide and rape on the island.
Poster Boy's actions cause monetary harm. According to New York Magazine, subway posters cost $40,000/mo to cover 200 stations. MTA workers must restore damaged posters for paying advertisers. CBS Outdoor handles the MTA's advertising; Poster Boy can't be a good selling point.
This case pits criminal mischief against freedom of speech and expression. Should one be jailed for exercising First Amendment rights?
Yet, we all have opinions. If we all expressed them via damage, there would be chaos.
How much mischief is attributable to Poster Boy is questionable. He was the first, but other Poster People collage. Should he do jail time for others' razor work?
There has to be a better solution to this issue than a year on Rikers. Is the law trying to set an example to deter Poster People?
Here are two suggestions:
The MTA gives Poster Boy post ad campaign posters. He creates collages and exhibits them.
The MTA designates art spots like it designates musicians' spots.
Lord knows the subway could use a little art.
Sources:
Samuel Newhouse, "Brooklyn Hipsters Spreading Rampant Subway Vandalism, Or Is It Art? Brooklyn Hipsters Spreading Rampant Subway Vandalism, Or Is It Art?," Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Poster Boy, "Poster Boy NYC's photostream,"Flickr
Brooke Kosofsky Glassberg, "New Ad City," New York Magazine
Times Topics, "Rikers Island Prison Complex," The New York Times
CBS Outdoor, "Platform Displays," CBS Outdoor
Published by Renee Morway
From the skyscrapers of NYC, I face strength. From the people of NYC, I gain understanding. And from the heart of NYC, I feel inspiration. So, I tend to write about the city quite a bit. View profile
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