The Columbus Museum of Art joins our museum colleagues in expressing concern over the detention of acclaimed Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. We believe wholly in the freedom of expression and the nurturing of creativity and independent thought. We support the museum community’s efforts to hasten Ai Weiwei’s release. Utilizing Ai Weiwei’s favored medium of social sculpture, we encourage you to sign this online petition calling in support of those efforts.

On April 3, 2011, Ai Weiwei was detained at the Beijing airport while en route to Hong Kong and his papers and computers were seized from his studio compound. According to news reports, several of his associates have also been reported missing and his family has yet to be informed of his arrest, although officials have said he is being held for “economic crimes.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/15/ai-weiwei-lawyer-designer-disappear