This might be a first for the California Supreme Court. An exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City featuring self-described “art collective” My Barbarian will include a performance piece about former Chief Justice Rose Bird. Here’s the description on the museum website:
To celebrate My Barbarian’s creative output, the Whitney has commissioned Rose Bird, which will be composed, directed, and performed by the trio. This performance for the camera will be created in homage to the first female chief justice of the California Supreme Court, Rose Bird, a controversial figure due to her opposition to the death penalty—a sentence she repeatedly overturned during her decade-long tenure. Working with a variety of texts, Rose Bird will reimagine scenes from her biography as a teleplay and appropriate the media reports that framed both her personal life and work.
Bird was California’s Chief Justice from March 1977 until January 1987. She and two other justices — Joseph Grodin and Cruz Reynoso — lost bids for new terms at the November 1986 election.
The Whitney exhibition runs from October 29 through February 27.
Related:
Becoming Chief Justice: The Nomination and Confirmation of Rose Elizabeth Bird
Chief Justice Bird and her law clerks
Judges Association to honor former CJ Bird and former Justices Grodin and Reynoso
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