Collier Gwin of Foster Gwin Gallery has defended his actions
A San Francisco gallerist has sparked outrage after he was filmed spraying water from a garden hose at a homeless woman. The footage – taken by the owner of a local bakery – went viral in Janaury 2023.
Collier Gwin of Foster Gwin Gallery acknowledged that he was the man in the video, telling the San Francisco Chronicle that the woman had upset rubbish bins outside the gallery and was refusing to move.
Gwin has refused to apologise, telling the paper: “She starts screaming belligerent things, spitting, yelling at me…. At that point she was so out of control…. I spray her with the hose and say move, move. I will help you.”
The video of Gwin’s actions has triggered a backlash online, amidst concerns over the city’s housing crisis and freezing temperatures.
Police officers were called to the scene. ‘Officers interviewed both parties who declined further police action at that time,’ a spokesperson said.
Gwin, 71, initially faced a misdemeanour battery charge for his actions, but in July 2023 it was reported that he will instead be required to perform 35 hours of community service with Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown at the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco.
Reverend Brown stated that he was ‘interested in restorative justice’ rather than punitive justice, and that this incident could be a teachable moment.
Read Now: What Happens When Art Becomes a Toy for the Super Rich?
