Controversial Public Art Piece Given the Boot

Vancouverites send a sculpture packing, stirring up a debate over the role of public art.

1 minute read

June 13, 2008, 5:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"For all the talk about what, if anything, Dennis Oppenheim's towering sculpture says about religion and Christianity, it turns out complaints about water views and esthetics were ultimately what forced the controversial artwork out of a downtown park.

"Asking for a work to be removed because it blocks a view or damages a view is probably more insulting than having it removed for its content," says Oppenheim, a prominent New York-based artist."You have to understand the level of esoterica that a lot of art has to the public at large. It's a strange thing for lots of people, and the first thing they do is ask for it to be removed."

The sculpture - titled Device to Root Out Evil - was taken apart last week and is now destined for Calgary's Glenbow Museum, a move that's raised questions about how willing Canadians are to embrace public art. It was erected in a small park along Vancouver's waterfront in 2006, one of nearly two dozen works set up around the city for 18-month installations for the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale.

The six-metre-high statue of steel and red stained glass depicts an inverted church, its steeple penetrating the ground and its base reaching out into the sky.

Sunday, June 8, 2008 in The Canadian Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

July 10 - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

July 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial of rainbow painted crosswalks at large intersection in Castro District, Sna Francisco, California.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts

Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

July 10 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA