The president of Calgary’s Glenbow Museum, which is to become the new home of a controversial sculpture by American artist Dennis Oppenheim, has expressed disappointment that the work of art is being forced to leave Vancouver.

Device to Root Out Evil—also known as the upside-down church—has stood in Coal Harbour’s Harbour Green Park since 2005. Owned by Benefic Group, a law firm that works with the philanthropic sector, the work came under fire from Christian groups and from local residents who complained about their view being obstructed by the piece. In March the Vancouver park board voted to remove the sculpture, and on June 2 it was announced that the work will be loaned to the Glenbow.

“It’s just a shame,” Jeffrey Spalding, president of the Glenbow Museum, told the Straight by phone. “Art can always be read different sorts of ways, but in this instance I think that its siting was absolutely exquisite.”

Spalding said he is confident the sculpture will be welcomed by Calgarians.

“The city of Calgary and certainly its citizens are really excited about and anxious to be re-engaged with a dialogue about contemporary art,” he said.