Upside-down church sculpture vandalized, burned in Calgary’s East Village
Posted Nov 4, 2025 4:25 pm.
What was once a striking red-and-white landmark in Calgary’s East Village now stands charred and blackened.
The city’s upside-down church sculpture, officially titled Device to Root Out Evil, has been vandalized—leaving some residents upset and looking for answers.
The sculpture, a public art installation, was discovered damaged on Oct. 29 after Calgary Fire crews responded to the scene. The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), which brought the piece to East Village in 2019 on a zero-dollar lease through a non-profit foundation, confirmed the incident and said they are investigating.
“I feel bad that they started a fire on it,” said Adam, a local resident. “It makes this place feel a little scary because of what they did.”
The artwork, which has long been a popular photo spot and conversation piece, holds symbolic meaning for many in the community. Darcy, another local, recalled taking photos with the sculpture when it first arrived in the neighborhood.
For others, the damage feels deeply personal.
“I just can’t believe that someone would do something like this,” said Suzanne, who also lives nearby. “It’s an upside-down church, and it has meaning. I do hope they find who did this, because it’s a sacrilege.”
Despite the public outcry, Calgary Police told CityNews that no official complaint has been filed.
In a statement, CMLC said they became aware of the damage after the fire and have since engaged the public art consultancy ‘Art to Public’ to assess the extent of the damage and assist with restoration efforts.
