January 25, 2011

By Jared Hogan

Paul Jackson, the artist behind the Tiger Spot mosaic that has been covered by a tarp on Lowry Mall since 2007, announced he has filed a lawsuit against MU in a press release Tuesday morning.

“This lawsuit, though regrettable, is necessary. I have tried for years in good faith to negotiate a solution with MU administrators, to no avail,” Jackson said in the release. “MU’s previous offers to move the mosaic or have me sign my rights away ranged from insulting to ridiculous. I do not believe the University has been dealing in good faith with regard to this project.”

Jackson said the lawsuit “stems from what happened when MU took over possession of this magnificent work of art, known as Tiger Spot.”

The press release also cites public damages to the artist’s reputation as reason for the suit.

“University newspapers, MU libraries, and student government ridiculed the work, and the artist, blaming the expenses on me and causing damage to my honor and reputation,” Jackson said. “The actions of the University and its officials violated several provisions of United States federal law. That is why the lawsuit was brought, and why this case deserves to be heard in federal court.”

The full text of Jackson’s statement is as follows:

This lawsuit, though regrettable, is necessary. I have tried for years in good faith to negotiate a solution with MU administrators, to no avail. MU’s previous offers to move the mosaic or have me sign my rights away ranged from insulting to ridiculous. I do not believe the University has been dealing in good faith with regard to this project. The lawsuit stems from what happened when MU took over possession of this magnificent work of art, known as Tiger Spot.

The Tiger Spot mosaic was carefully planned, privately financed, and meticulously assembled and installed. The materials, location and methods used were appropriate and approved by the University. Unfortunately the concrete and mastic used were never allowed to cure properly. The artist’s wishes and specifications were not followed.

Traffic of all types was allowed to pummel it, and vandalism allowed to occur repeatedly. Meanwhile, University publications were printing and creating a narrative which vilified and cast aspersions on the artist, the materials, and the methods used.

I donated all my time, energy and resources to the project, as did a huge number of volunteers. A sixteen-month restoration period was undertaken, at the end of which University officials sent a large concrete-breaker to install a pole-and-chain barrier around the perimeter of the mosaic. We begged MU officials to stop the destructive jackhammering, to no avail. Subsequently, all the restoration work, and more was destroyed. The giant jack-hammer and the bollards, cost the project over $30,000 dollars. I led an effort to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for construction, maintenance and repair, which was funneled through MU. They have never given me a proper accounting of where that money went.

The mosaic is a glass-and-mortar creation whose value had been estimated at a million dollars. MU used my name again and again in a negative light in connection with the project, which is illegal under federal law. I am, or was, honored as a ” Distinguished Alumnus ” in 2002 by MU. It pains me that I have to hold MU accountable for their regrettable actions, but I am left with no choice.

MU brought in an expert(twice) to say the mosaic was incorrectly built but never allowed him to speak to me. University newspapers, MU libraries, and student government ridiculed the work, and the artist, blaming the expenses on me and causing damage to my honor and reputation. The actions of the University and its officials violated several provisions of United States federal law. That is why the lawsuit was brought, and why this case deserves to be heard in federal court.