P.E.I. university apologizes for removing lemming painting that offended Americans

CHARLOTTETOWN — The University of Prince Edward Island has apologized to a former artist in residence who quit after administrators ordered him to remove a painting that offended some American faculty members.

Christopher Griffin’s painting, “The Crossing,” shows lemmings gathered around an American flag as they cross an icy waterway in a boat, an image inspired by the iconic painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River during the American Revolution in 1776.

Griffin says his homage to Emanuel Leutze’s 1851 painting is intentionally political as it reflects his dismay over U.S. President Donald Trump’s “insulting and threatening” attitude toward Canada since he was sworn in on Jan. 20.

The artist quit the unpaid position earlier this week and accused the university of censorship.

On Thursday, he said the university should welcome discussions about politics and freedom of speech. And he said that before quitting he had offered to take part in a public discussion to explain his work, but the college declined.

“On the face of it, you could say it’s an anti-American painting, it’s a critical painting,” he said Thursday. “But my intention was more of a lament for the United States. It wasn’t meant to disrespect the American people or the American flag.”

He chose lemmings because of the myth that they are known for committing mass suicide when their population can’t sustain itself. “It reflects my bewilderment at the self-destructive policies of the American government at this time,” he said.

The university issued a public apology to Griffin on Friday, saying it was wrong to ask him to choose between taking down his painting or leaving his residency.

The university says “The Crossing” will again be displayed in a prominent location at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, and the institution says Griffin has been asked to return to the campus to talk about his work and show his paintings.

“The decision (to remove the painting) did not reflect our institutional values, and we regret the hurt and frustration it caused,” the statement says. “Art plays an essential role in education and public life — it challenges us, encourages dialogue and fosters understanding. We fell short of our responsibility to protect that role.”

In a social media post, Griffin said Friday he had accepted an apology from Dominique Griffon, dean of the veterinary college. As well, he said he had accepted an invitation from the university’s president, Wendy Rogers, to host a roundtable discussion about his art.

“I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from across the country,” he said in a post on the X platform.

“A huge silver lining is that this event has revealed the deep passion Canadians feel for our country and the values we hold sacred, including the freedom of expression. Canada finds herself in troubled times, but my faith in our people has never been greater. We are strong together.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2025.

— By Michael MacDonald in Halifax