Artist protests removal of his 3D crosswalk

In a move meant to protest the removal of his 3D crosswalk in Dartmouth, a local artist has taken to Grand Parade to protest.

Doug Carleton wrote a Joseph Howe quote in chalk in the public gathering space outside of Halifax City Hall.

The quote said, “They have shrunk from inquiry, though they have strained after punishment. I have in every shape dared the one, that I might, so far as lay in my power, be able to secure the other.”

“Which is basically [saying] you're not answering my questions even though you went out of my way to destroy my work,” he told The Rick Howe Show. “I'm going to continue to stay in your face and use every outlet I have in my power, until one of you at least has the courage in your convictions to take responsibility for making the call to destroy my work.”

Over the summer, Carleton spend around 80 hours adding shadows to the existing zebra markings in an attempt to make it appear that the crosswalk on Erskine St. at Elliott was floating in mid-air.

The artwork garnered a lot of attention on social media, however crews were dispatched to remove the optical illusion last Thursday.

A statement from Halifax Regional Municipality said the province's Motor Vehicle Act doesn't allow the addition of traffic signs, signals or markings unless they conform to Department of Transportation specifications.

“It is important to note that the removal of the artwork is not discretionary as the municipality is required to adhere to, provincial legislation regarding traffic markings,” said the email last week from HRM spokesperson Maggie-Jane Spray.

Carleton saids other municipalities, including Montreal, are trying out 3D crosswalks, and have paid $3,000 for the pilot project.

“I understand that [some] people are going to see it as vandalism. I've heard from multiple people who say I should be charged for the cost of having the road workers come out there to wipe it off the city street,” he said. “I would really like people to understand I did ask for a permit and waited a full month out of good faith.”

“I tried to do something good. I tried to give this to my city and I offered my labour for free.”

The heavy rain from post-tropical storm Erin has likely washed his quote away, but Carleton said that doesn't mean his protest is over.

“Every couple of days, when it seems like they might have possibly forgotten about me, I'm just going to remind them I haven't gone anywhere.”