Canadian Non-profit Association Orders Artist to Remove Image of Karl Marx From Public Mural

From Censorpedia

Date: 2008

Region: North America

Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion

Medium: Public Art


Strike.jpg

Artist: Unnamed Local Artist

Confronting Bodies: West End BIZ (Business Improvement Zone)

Dates of Action: July 2008

Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Description of Artwork: Public painted mural depicting Winnipeg during the 1919 general strike.

The Incident: The Executive Director of West End BIZ, Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner, admitted to ordering a local artist to remove an image of a man who resembled Karl Marx from the final design of a public mural that the association commissioned. She remarked that the BIZ's original intention was to commission a mural that depicted the social climate and history of that period in Winnipeg, rather than the political history. The artist complied and the image of the Marx-looking man was removed from the mural.

Results of Incident: Passerby have expressed some disappointment and the mural is the subject of a local internet blog. However, no action is being taken.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press