Gail Kern Mural
Date: 2003
Region: North America
Subject: Religion
Medium: Public Art, Mural
Artist: Gail Kern
Confronting Bodies: The Eagle Rose Fellowship Church
Dates of Action: October, 2003
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Description of Artwork: Gail's mural included a painting of a clown on the wall of a West Fargo building. Another painting that recieved complaints from the church was of a fairy on another wall of the buildings.
The Incident: Gail Kern was commissioned to paint a mural on the wall of a West Fargo building. Shortly after her mural was complete Kern returned to take photos for her portfolio; she found her painting, in addition to that of the fairy, had been covered. She spoke to the building managers who told her that the Eagle Rose Fellowship Church believed that it was a painting of a "devil worshipper," and asked that it be removed. When she questioned the pastor of the church he suggested that "certain images call to presence things that I am not interested in, things I do not feel comfortable with."
Results of Incident: Gail asked other building residents if they agreed, and none had a problem with the image. The Fargo Forum published a front page article on the issue giving it the publicity the artist wanted.