A Black Creek artist has been expelled from displaying his art in a local church after creating a baseball cap with a swastika painted on the front.

On Tuesday morning (Feb. 15), Brian Scott posted a photo on his Instagram and Facebook accounts of the hat, along with the message B次元官网网址淧aint anything for money vets of ww2 would not approve.B次元官网网址�

The post was shared on the Comox Valley Rants & Raves page (15,200 members) and the community reaction was immediate. More than 250 comments were posted within 12 hours.

Page administrators said they were hesitant to allow the post, but after holding it for a day, they chose to publish it.

B次元官网网址淚 am usually so strict about no naming and no shaming people in the group B次元官网网址� but I gave him a solid 24 hours to remove the post; many people begged him to remove it. And he still not only would not, he made more posts bragging about it,B次元官网网址� said one administrator.

Comox Valley Regional District director Arzeena Hamir, who saw the post, said she was disgusted.

B次元官网网址淎s should everybody,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter what your background is. ItB次元官网网址檚 incredibly abhorrent that someone would offer to (be a) painter for hire, and say B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 care what I do. Willing to paint things that offend peopleB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� It certainly needs to be called out.B次元官网网址�

The Little Red Church Arts Community, where Scott has been displaying his work, has since expelled him. A post was published on the groupB次元官网网址檚 Facebook page Wednesday evening, declaring B次元官网网址淏rian Scott is no longer at the Little Red Church.B次元官网网址�

When contacted by Black Press Media, Scott expressed little remorse.

B次元官网网址淚t seemed like a good idea at the time,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that he regrets posting the photo, although the posts remained up on both his Instagram and Facebook pages at the time of publication.

He said the hat was a one-off.

B次元官网网址淚 just did the one, for a biker. I made $20. I needed gas money, so I said B次元官网网址榮ure, IB次元官网网址檒l do it.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�

He said that if anything, the reaction to his post has helped him.

B次元官网网址淪alvador Dali said whether you get negative press or positive press as an artist, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter B次元官网网址� your name is out there. As a result of all the negative press, I sold two paintings, and I am not at Little Red Church anymore so I save $700 a month in rent and gas driving back and forth. So itB次元官网网址檚 all good as far as I am concerned.

B次元官网网址淚f they want to call me a neo-Nazi well B次元官网网址� people will believe anything. So anyway, go have fun with that.B次元官网网址�

He also implied on a Facebook post that his lack of sales at the Little Red Church was the catalyst for creating the hat.

B次元官网网址淚 was (at) little red church 5 sunny days 20,000 cars went by met tourists from across Canada nobody spent a dime thatB次元官网网址檚 why I paint nazi hats to put gas in my car duh whatB次元官网网址檚 up doc,B次元官网网址� reads the post.

The Little Red Church Arts Community refused to comment.

The City of Courtenay was also in discussions with Scott regarding an B次元官网网址榓rt in the parkB次元官网网址� project this summer at Simms Park.

Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells said the art project could still be a possibility, but ScottB次元官网网址檚 involvement in it is unlikely. Wells has yet to speak to staff regarding the issue.

B次元官网网址淭he art project itself, there may be other artists that would be interested in doing itB次元官网网址� there are other people in the community that can do it, and that have done other similar projects,B次元官网网址� Wells said.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 start putting swastikas on your Facebook page and telling people to go to hell, thatB次元官网网址檚 not (acceptable).

B次元官网网址淵ou talk about freedom of speech, but you start doing that stuff and you arenB次元官网网址檛 going to get any sympathy - youB次元官网网址檒l get the opposite. I donB次元官网网址檛 think he understands the reputational damage he has done, from the fallout of this. There is certainly a line that has been crossed here. There are symbols that are used only for hate, and only used by institutions that arenB次元官网网址檛 accepted in any way. At no point since after 1945 has Nazi memorabilia been (acceptable). ItB次元官网网址檚 total tone-deafness there.B次元官网网址�

Comox Valley RCMP confirmed that a file has been opened and they are investigating the case, but thereB次元官网网址檚 likely little they can do at this time.

B次元官网网址淚t is not illegal in Canada to display a swastika or any sort of flag containing that,B次元官网网址� said Comox Valley RCMP media relations liaison, Const. Monika Terragni. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got Sections 318-320 of the Criminal Code that does indicate what Canada defines a hate crime as, which essentially is anything that is advocating or promoting (inciting) hate. Unfortunately, Canada is one of those countries simply displaying the Nazi symbol is not an offence.B次元官网网址�

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Like us on and follow us on