Paintings since removed by the City of Vancouver. On Beatty Street between Dunsmuir and Georgia streets.
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PrintBeatty Street murals painted over by City of Vancouver
On Beatty Street, between Dunsmuir and Georgia, there were a series of murals painted on a long concrete wall. They’re now gone.
This morning (December 23), they were painted over by the City of Vancouver. All that remains is a long stretch of blue.
According to David McLellan, general manager of community services for the City of Vancouver, the murals were painted over as part of “maintenance in that area”.
McLellan explained that the Beatty Street murals were created in 2007 as part of a fundraiser for the Steve Nash Foundation. He said that they were always regarded by the city as a temporary installation.
“It is standard business for the city to do the upkeep on its publicly visible property,” McLellan continued. “That is one of the city’s properties.”
On November 16, the City of Vancouver removed a mural outside the Crying Room gallery in the Downtown Eastside. The work depicted the Olympic Games in a negative light.
The Beatty Street murals were painted on a concrete wall that bordered a large parking lot at the corner of Georgia Street and Beatty Street. The area is designated as an Olympic venue scheduled to be used for entertainment during the Games.
McLellan maintained that the painting over of the Beatty Street murals is not part of any greater initiative to eliminate similar works in Vancouver. But he stated that the city does regularly remove works created on public property without a permit.
On December 23, workers hired by the City of Vancouver painted over murals on Beatty Street. Travis Lupick photo.
Alternatively, he continued, the City of Vancouver does issue permits for paintings in areas visible to the public. One example is the series of murals that exist underneath the south end of the Granville Street Bridge.
“Those are actually permitted,” McLellan said. “I don’t think there is any plan to paint over those.”
Paintings since removed by the City of Vancouver. On Beatty Street between Dunsmuir and Georgia streets.
You can follow Travis Lupick on Twitter at twitter.com/tlupick.
Comments
I personally liked this particular stretch of 'public art' and would be curious to know who really made the decision to paint it over. But I do hope that this unfortunate decision, and Council's unwise decision to end the 'graffiti program' will not lead to more unwanted tagging and painting on public and private properties around the city.
And Michael Geller... stop kissing ass. We're sick and tired of your constant sucking up to city hall. You lost last fall.
Get over it Geller.
Creative City? Fun City? To the contrary. Our new Art Commissars seem intent on painting the city a grim grey. It's such barbaric behaviour it's hard to believe it's happening right here and not in some totalitarian country. Especially when the Olympics were meant to celebrate everything unique and creative about our vibrant arts community, not hiding them out of sight.
Mayor and council contacts:
gregor@votevision.ca
clrdeal@vancouver.ca
clrcadman@vancouver.ca
clranton@vancouver.ca
clrchow@vancouver.ca
clrlouie@vancouver.ca
clrmeggs@vancouver.ca
clrwoodsworth@vancouver.ca
clrjang@vancouver.ca
clrstevenson@vancouver.ca
clrreimer@vancouver.ca
Who was the mural hurting? Seeing the images was damaging to what social group? Who was so offended by this work of art that they managed to convince others to destroy it? Most importantly, who allowed themselves to be cowed into submission by the mental midgets who thought that destroying a unique piece of art would be to the benefit of anyone?
In almost all cities and towns around Canada, our politicians are overstepping their bounds, making the wrong decisions on almost every front, and operating to the general detriment of the people they are alleged to represent. It's time to drop-kick the socialist regimes across Canada and get back to our roots.
Tag the shit out of the wall.
Im not into tagging. But this censorship sure compels me to be.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=vancouver&sl...
Enjoy it while you can.
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