Kennedy Center to remove landmark ‘Blue’ sculpture from campus
Category: News & Politics
Via: hallux • 2 months ago • 8 commentsBy: Victoria Craw and Jonathan Edwards - WaPo
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A landmark sculpture is set to be removed from the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Center on Wednesday, in the latest apparent attempt to remake the arts venue under the stewardship of President Donald Trump.
The towering sculpture of a sticklike human figure by Joel Shapiro, named “Blue,” was installed in the center’s grounds in September 2019 at the Reach expansion area overlooking the Potomac River. The figure poised in mid-kick was described by Shapiro at the time as a “celebration of possibility.” Shapiro died last year.
The Kennedy Center did not provide advance notice of the plans, nor a reason for the removal, and did not immediately reply to a request for comment early Wednesday.
The removal marks the latest change to the high-profile venue that has been mired in controversy since it was taken over by Trump in February 2025.
Trump has refashioned the board of trustees, who voted to make him chairman and to name the center after him. Efforts to install his name on the building were blocked by a judge who ordered the letters removed, and then revived by a board vote to add Trump’s name as an inscription. Ticket sales and fundraising have collapsed since the center’s renaming, The Post reported.
Advocacy group Hands Off the Arts, which has campaigned against Trump’s changes to the institution, told people to “say your final goodbyes to Blue, Joel Shapiro’s beloved figure,” in a post on social media Tuesday .
“Wednesday, September 2, 2026 will forever be known as the day the United States government tore down a piece of public art at the behest of a petulant crybaby. But it won’t be the last,” it said.
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At least the Trump crowd waited till Joel Shapiro died ... /s
That was inconsiderate of Mr Shapiro... /s
They didn't have to take it out to paint it orange. Now they will have to move it back when the new paint job is done.
What's he gonna put in its place.... a gold statue of himself complete with purple robe and crown?
Trump and Epstein
They should bring this one back.
I wouldn't be surprised if Trump were to sign an Executive Order banning the use of the words "No trump" from the card game of Bridge.
Only woke transgender commies play Bridge.
Well, my father was a championship Bridge player, played against Eric Murray who was Canada's Bridge champion. They used to play in our living room and when I was a kid I would sit on the stairs and watch them. My father was neither transgender nor woke, and he was the farthest thing from a "Commie", being the owner of a small factory with 18 employees.