About three weeks ago readers complained about an art display in the windows of VW Contemporary Galleries at 353 Greenwich Avenue.
The display featured a painting of a larger than life topless woman with an old-fashioned heavy brass diver’s helmet over her head. In the background was a Confederate flag.
On Friday March 11, Greenwich Free Press contacted Greenwich Police and the First Selectman, who is also the police commissioner, and they explained that the painting was legal to display.
“Art has been upheld in the courts as a First Amendment right,” Police Captain Mark Zuccerella said.
By Monday the display was gone and the entire art gallery vacated.
This past week the window was filled with signage announcing the space will soon be home to Ba&Sh, a women’s apparel business.
End of story? Not really.
After posting these three photos on the GFP Facebook Page, the Page was banned from posting for 24 hours due to violating the social media network’s policy against “nudity.”
The Confederate flag, an enduring symbol of racism that remains popular among white supremacists, apparently did not violate any rules.
“Repeatedly violating our Community Standards can cause further account restrictions,” Facebook said in an automated message.
See also: After Old Greenwich Shop Receives Violation, Petition Supports Floral Display
