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From: Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: [OT] Artist reinstated after being fired due to political art
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:37:15 -0400
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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