I am the artist who created the “time to unperson” mural in Roscoe, NY that was censored, then destroyed. The following notes are meant to provide transparency and clarify the events that led to our legal filing.

From the moment issues surfaced in July 2025, we spent seven months seeking an amicable solution with the person who tried to vandalize the unfinished artwork and the Town of Rockland.

We made three attempts to enter mediation with the individual, first through a town council member, then DRC Sullivan County, a local and free option with trained mediators. The individual canceled or refused each attempt.

The town issued a citation soon after the vandalism attempt, claiming the artwork was a commercial sign in need of a permit. Sunday Home, the business that contractually agreed to the project, immediately disputed the citation with a letter stating the mural was an artwork, not a sign, citing First Amendment concerns, and requesting a retraction of the citation.

The town didn’t retract or reply, but a recent Freedom of Information Law request reveals the code enforcer forwarded the letter to the town’s lawyer, acknowledging the mural was protected speech. In other words, the email suggests the citation by the town was part of an intentional plan to censor and destroy a work of art.

Since October 2025, we sent additional communications to the town: a certified letter, a notice of potential legal claim and several emails, including an invitation to try mediation. Every communication noted free speech and censorship concerns, encouraged resolution and conveyed a wish to avoid litigation. All of these communications went largely unanswered until January 2026.

Concerning the destruction of the mural, the building owner decided to remain neutral from the start, while sharing stress and anxiety from the pressure he was receiving, allegedly from the town. He was kept in the loop regarding attempts at dialogue with the town until December 2025, when he stopped responding.

In February 2026, the New York State Police informed us that the same building owner walked into the Roscoe station, asking about the legality of destroying the mural. The sudden threat prompted recognition that we could no longer wait on the town, and our legal complaint in progress was finished and filed. A few weeks later, the mural was destroyed.

Now, our complaint in the Southern District of New York alleges the Town of Rockland knowingly violated First Amendment free speech rights, while the consequent destruction of the mural is a violation of a federal law called the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) of 1990 that prohibits the willful destruction of art.

During this period, local news noted a “community backlash” against the mural. However, to this day, we know of only three men who shared concerns, by calling the artwork “vulgar,” “divisive” or “bullshit.” Yet, there are no petitions or letters to editors against the mural to date, and our Freedom of Information Law requests show no complaints from any Town of Rockland businesses or citizens. This raises a question: If the mural was a community controversy, why is there almost no public record of opposition?

A letter to the editor at the River Reporter about the individual who tried to vandalize the mural reinforced this point: “The efforts by one person… to stop artistic expression by an American citizen does not constitute ‘community’ backlash. It is one man’s opinion and taste… acting in a way that is selfish and censorious and deeply un-American.”

We have meanwhile seen significant support from the community. A MoveOn petition currently has 183 signers, with the vast majority living in or near Sullivan County. An editorial in ArtKill magazine, four letters to the editor at Manor Ink and one at the River Reporter were also published in support.

Taking a position of resistance is easy in theory but difficult in practice. Everything you hear about lawsuits is true; they are unpleasant. Yet I feel compelled to endure, in support of the Constitution, free speech and artist rights.

In tandem with the legal proceedings, our amicable efforts to resolve the matter continue. We made multiple attempts to settle with the building owner and the town so far, with no meaningful reply or engagement from either party. We hope this changes ahead.

Meanwhile, there are questions for the community to consider: As yet another free speech lawsuit hits the Town of Rockland, following the Leroy v. Livingston Manor case, is there a pattern to be examined? Looking ahead, are there ways to improve tolerance, dialogue and acceptance, rather than resorting to censorship and destruction of unique perspectives?

I remain open to healthy dialogue exploring answers to these questions. My intention is to remain centered in ethics and compassion, seeking the path of least harm, while moving towards resolution. I ask for your support in making a similar effort, in your own way.

Seth Indigo Carnes lives in Roscoe, NY.