Removal of community mural still going to happen

Artist Cyrus Genier and supporters Jenelle Palmer and Anisophie Genier rally to keep Genier’s mural Community from being painted over.

Peter W. Rusland/file

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The community mural ordered removed by the City of Duncan last October is still there, but not for long.

The piece painted by Cyrus Genier on the Phoenix Motor Inn's parking lot wall was done without a development-area permit. The delay in its removal has simply been because of weather-related concerns, said Councillor Sharon Jackson.

"By the time the mural was ordered down, it was autumn and the heavy rains had already begun,'' she explained. "No paint would have adhered to the surface, not only because of the ran, but because of the saturation of the soil behind the retaining wall.''

Jackson added it's her understanding a drop-dead date of April 6 has been given for the mural to either be painted over or covered with wood or some other material.

Genier admitted previously his work, seen by councillors as glorified graffiti, contradicted Duncan's style. "I see the city as being a bit scared of change,'' he said before the ruling to remove the art was made.