[UPDATE BELOW] The artist who installed the "I Love NY" bag that caused a bomb scare in Williamsburg on Friday has finally been released from jail. After three days at Rikers, Takeshi Miyakawa finally appeared before a judge in Brooklyn court today. Before releasing the suspect, Judge William Garnett called his lawyer and the prosecutor to the bench and spoke about the previous judge's decision to jail Miyakawa for 30 days for a mental health evaluation. "Some people might call it a little bizarre," Judge Garnett was overheard telling the attorneys, referring to Miyakawa's art installations. "And my colleague's decision is arguable."
Takeshi Miyakawa installing his art (release)
Miyakawa's attorney Deborah Blum, stressed that the previous judge did not ask her client a single question during his first court appearance, implying that he had little to base his decision of ordering a psychological evaluation on. But as she continued to strenuously object to her client's treatment, Judge Garnett interrupted her and told her, "This is not a press conference." The prosecution consented to letting the defendant to be released, but Miyakawa will still have to submit to a mental evaluation in late June.
Miyakawa, looking disheveled in a T-shirt and cargo shorts, smiled broadly when he learned he'd be released, and wiggled his handcuffed fingers at the dozens of friends who showed up in court to support him. (Over 1,000 people have signed a petition demanding his release from jail.)
We're currently waiting for the artist to appear outside court, and we'll update in a bit. It's worth noting that he is still charged with two counts of placing a false bomb or a hazardous substance, reckless endangerment, placing a false bomb or a false substance in the 2nd degree, and criminal nuisance in the 2nd degree.
[UPDATE] Miyakawa just exited the courthouse and addressed a gaggle of reporters. "It feels great," he says. Though he said he was "shocked" that he was arrested and charged with planting false bombs, he said he was more upset by the inconvenience to Brooklynites on Friday when authorities shut down Bedford Avenue to investigate his art. "I was...shocked that the people of Williamsburg were locked down for two hours, and for that I am really sorry," Miyakawa said, bowing slightly.
As for Judge Murphy's order that he submit to a psychiatric evaluation, Miyakawa says, "I was totally surprised. Do I look like an insane person? But that's what the judge asked me to do and I will do it."
Asked if he would install fixtures like this again he replied, "Not anymore. I will get a permit." Miyakawa adds that he holds no ill will towards the city for his incarceration. "I still love New York." After being held at Rikers for three days, he says he wants "A long bath and a beer."
Louis Lim, a designer and artist who calls Miyakawa a "mentor and second father," says that the incident is a victory for the city's art and design community. "It's not about the media, it's not about any of that. Takeshi is a guy who doesn't even know what Facebook is, but in a matter of hours, thousands of people were supporting him."
"New York is still a police state," Lim adds, "But the support people have shown means that there's still hope—that people understand that we're all still part of a community."
