Re: [OT] Artist reinstated after being fired due to political art

On 2025-04-11 12:36 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
 

An artist-in-residence at a veterinary college on Prince Edward Island
has received an apology after being ousted from his position due to the
political tone of his recent work, particularly one painting.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-avc-apologizes-1.7507766

 

The position of artist-in-residence was an unpaid one but the college
was apparently unhappy with the artist's work, which could be construed
as anti-American amidst the controversy over Trump.

 

In a rare move for CBC, they actually allow comments under this story.
For the past couple of years, virtually every article - and YouTube
video - has prohibited comments. The only times I've seen comments under
their stories (or videos) in recent years are ones that seemed unlikely
to stoke any sort of controversy.

 I looked at the photograph of the painting. It's kind of cute, and yes,
I see the parody of Washington Crossing the Delaware (the Delaware River
Bridge not yet having been built).
 

Honestly, I really don't understand what that painting is trying to say. Is he equating Americans with lemmings for having voted for Trump? If so, how does the boat and the river crossing factor into the commentary?
The boat is keeping the lemmings from drowning and the American rowing the boat is saving them whereas a Trump critic would presumably paint Trump as facilitating the death of the lemmings. Since I can't understand the art, I'm baffled by why the college administration - and two American professors - took issue with it.

The guy cranks out three or four murals a week in his unpaid position.
That's incredible.

The whole idea of an artist-in-residence at a veterinary college seems odd to me. But since he wasn't getting paid, I suppose it was an ego boost for the artist and something the school could brag about since not many schools - let alone veterinary schools - have an artist-in-residence.
In any case, it seems like a double victory for free speech: the artist was reinstated AND the CBC actually allowed comments on the story.
--
Rhino