Artist quits post after P.E.I. vet college tells him to remove painting based on U.S. politics
The former artist-in-residence at the Atlantic Veterinary College, Christopher Griffin, has made headlines after quitting his position due to censorship concerns. Griffin, who had relocated from Ottawa to Prince Edward Island in 2023, was the college’s first-ever artist-in-residence and had been brightening up the UPEI-based institution with his animal-themed artwork.
However, the focus of Griffin’s work took a political turn following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump for the second time. Feeling compelled to react to the political climate, Griffin created a series of paintings based on the Canadian national anthem. One of these paintings, titled O Canada, featuring an elephant with a Canadian flag, received positive feedback and hung in the AVC for two months without issue.
The controversy arose when Griffin displayed a painting called The Crossing, depicting a boat of lemmings carrying a discoloured U.S. flag across a northern Canadian waterway. The painting was inspired by Emanuel Leutze’s iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware, with the lemmings symbolizing self-destructive behavior akin to the current political climate in the United States.
Three complaints were lodged against The Crossing, two of which came from American faculty members at the college. As a significant portion of the AVC’s staff and students are American, concerns were raised about the political nature of the artwork creating discomfort in the community.
College officials, including Dean Dominique Griffon, requested that Griffin remove the controversial painting from display to maintain a serene environment for students and staff. Griffin, however, refused to comply and opted to leave his residency instead. Despite the decision, Griffin expressed no animosity towards the university or its administration.
The incident sparked a debate on social media, with some students and faculty expressing disappointment at the censorship of Griffin’s artwork. In response, Griffin plans to showcase his paintings at his downtown Charlottetown art gallery and continue raising funds for charities through online auctions.
Ultimately, Griffin stands by his belief that a university should be a space for open dialogue and diverse perspectives, even if they may be uncomfortable for some. While his tenure as artist-in-residence at the AVC may have ended prematurely, Griffin remains committed to using his art as a tool for social commentary and expression.
