Florida artist smashes $1 mn vase in protest

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's ‘Coloured Vases’ at the Perez Art Museum in Miami MIAMI: An artist is facing a criminal charge after police say he smashed a $1 million vase at Miami’s new art museum to protest what he called its favouritism for international rather than local art.   Maximo Caminero (51) was charged with criminal mischief after Sunday’s incident at the Perez Art Museum Miami. According to a Miami Police Department arrest affidavit, a security guard told officers that Caminero picked up a coloured vase by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei.  When told to put it down, the guard said Caminero smashed it on the floor. The affidavit says Caminero told officers he broke the vase to protest the museum’s lack of local artist displays and because “the museum only displayed international artists’ art”.  Caminero is a painter who lives in Miami. The police affidavit lists the value of the vase as $1 million, quoting the museum’s security officials. Criminal mischief can be a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison when the property damaged is worth more than $1,000.  According to PAMM’s web site, the vase is one of more than a dozen that are part of a floor installation. Each vase is partially painted in bright colours. Behind the installation are a series of three black-and-white photos showing Ai holding a vase and then letting it drop to the ground, smashing into pieces.  The Ai Weiwei: According to What? exhibit runs through March 16 at the museum. A sculptor, designer and documentary-maker, Ai has irked Beijing by using his art and online profile to draw attention to injustices in China . He was detained for 81 days in 2011 during crackdown on dissent.;