Monday, May 26, 2008

Device to root out devil


It was too hot for New York City; too hot for Stanford University. But a controversial, imposing sculpture by renowned international artist Dennis Oppenheim finally found a public home in Vancouver. Now, after 21/2 years in a prominent location near Stanley Park, the upside-down country church, denounced as “blasphemous” by some aghast Christians, is about to be unceremoniously dismantled, its future uncertain. Too many negative comments and too many neighbours complaining that the sculpture interfered with their view of scenic Coal Harbour sealed the immediate fate of Mr. Oppenheim’s work. The decision to remove the sculpture, approved unanimously by Vancouver Park Board commissioners this week, has dismayed those who wanted to keep the piece’s topsy-turvy church spire where it is, like Michaela Frosch, the disappointed chairwoman of Vancouver Sculpture Biennale: "I don’t think we are yet prepared for this level of art. Very clearly, it does create debate and dialogue, but that’s good."

1 comment:

Unknown said...

They take away an upside-down church sculpture with their uptight thinking, but yet retain upright churches that breed upside-down thinking.... go figure. ;)