Fort Worth, Texas will not be pursuing the child pornography case against artist Sally Mann and the Modern Art Museum.
The issue arose in January when certain pictures by photographer Sally Mann came under fire. The pictures, first taken in the 1990s, featured her nude children. The photographs had been displayed in numerous exhibitions since their inceptions and do not feature the children in any sexual manner. Nonetheless, some local Texas politicians took issue with the depiction of naked children in the public space.
The images were removed from the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth and taken under custody by the local authorities. At the time, the museum only released a statement that did not protest against the action but emphasized that the photographs by Sally Mann had been widely exhibited in other parts of the country and the world for the last 30 years.
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In February, three civil liberties unions of Texas sent a letter to the police chief of Fort Worth, calling the investigation a violation of the First Amendment and seeking an end to it. Now, the county of Fort Worth, Texas, has made it clear that they will not be pursuing the case anymore. After the decision, the museum’s attorney said: “The Modern thanks the Tarrant County Grand Jury’s thorough review in this matter. The Modern is the oldest museum in the State of Texas. It proudly serves the Fort Worth community and beyond and will continue to maintain the highest of standards.” However, it is not yet clear when the photographs will be released from custody and whether they will be displayed again at the museum.
