A federal grand jury has indicted two climate activists who engaged in a protest at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in April. Their protest involved applying paint to the base and case of a well-known Degas sculpture. The charges, brought forth by the US Attorney’s Office, include “conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States” and causing damage to an exhibit or property within the museum.
According to the recently revealed indictment, Timothy Martin and Joanna Smith, along with unidentified co-conspirators, conducted research to identify potential targets within the National Gallery. They also informed members of the media in advance and entered the museum carrying plastic water bottles filled with paint, with the intention of vandalizing an exhibit. The indictment further claims that Martin and Smith proceeded to smear the paint on the case, base, and the surrounding floor of Degas’s sculpture titled “Little Dancer, Age Fourteen.”
The climate activists staged their protest on April 27 at around 11 a.m. Their objective was to draw attention to the climate crisis and they were associated with the climate group Declare Emergency. In addition to raising awareness, the protestors demanded that President Joe Biden declare a climate emergency and cease issuing new drilling permits and subsidies for fossil fuels.
According to federal authorities, Martin and Smith caused approximately $2,400 in damages and necessitated the removal of the artwork for a period of 10 days for repairs. In response to the incident, Kaywin Feldman, the director of the museum, posted a video statement on Twitter.
Following their voluntary surrender, both activists were taken into custody on Friday, as stated in a press release by the Department of Justice. The case is being investigated by the Washington field office of the FBI, specifically their Art Crime Team, with support from the National Gallery of Art Police and the US Park Police.
If Martin and Smith are found guilty, they could face a maximum prison sentence of five years and be fined up to $250,000, according to Art News. The protest at the National Gallery of Art occurred shortly after Declare Emergency’s disruption of a section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, causing traffic disruptions in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. Similar climate protests have taken place at museums in Europe, Australia, and Canada, organized by various groups. Notably, these protests often focus on renowned artworks by Vermeer, Goya, Monet, van Gogh, Rubens, and others.
Previous instances of climate protests have led to penalties. For instance, Italian politicians have advocated for imposing fines in response to recent protests at public monuments. Additionally, in November of last year, two activists in Belgium were sentenced to two months in prison for targeting Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” in The Hague.
