COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A controversial Cottonwood Heights mural is being changed.
Last April, the Canyon Inn bar added the mural on a concrete wall of the building.
The mural featured images of the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City burning with flames at the base, and a woman in a very revealing bikini.
While the bar owner Jim Stojack said he believed the mural represented, "All things Utah, the good and the bad," he received multiple complaints about the mural and the message it was sending to the community.
"Art is supposed to be provocative. It's supposed to shake people and make them go wow look at this. I like this. I don't like this," said Stojack during an April 2011 interview. "Some people would disagree with you there," replied ABC 4's Noah Bond. "Some people would. I don't know Van Gogh was pretty provocative. His art stands the test of time," replied Stojack.
The flames on Stojack's mural did not stand the test of time. He covered them with clouds.
"The original flames was to get a point out there get people talking what's going on with Cottonwood Heights and it did that," said Stojack.
Big sales are going on in Cottonwood Heights because of the shocking mural. Most major media outlets gave Stojack just what he wanted-- coverage.
"Saturday, Sunday my food sales have tripled," said Stojack.
Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore said that even though the mural was "done in poor taste," it is protected by free speech. He said individuals who were offended by the mural should express their feelings to the property owner.
Those complaints seemed to have an effect. Along with the new cloud to cover the flames a less-revealing swimsuit was added to help cover up the racy woman as well.
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