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

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

7 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today