Italian Montrealers oppose removing storied artist’s name from park

GLOBAL NEWS
By Morgan Lowrie

Cupola of Saint-Michael the Archangel Guido Nincheri, Courtesy of Roger Boccini Nincheri.

CANADA---Montreal’s mayor is again facing criticism over changing the name of a city park – this time from members of the Italian community fighting to preserve the legacy of renowned local artist. A park in the city’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district named after late Italian-Canadian artist Guido Nincheri is expected to be renamed after Quebec City next year, where it will display several statues the city is gifting to Montreal in honour of its 375th birthday. But some Montreal Italians feel the renaming shows a lack of respect to the artist once described as the “Michelangelo of Montreal,” whose stunning frescoes and stained glass works are displayed in churches across North America. [link]