Gregory S. Morris, a 66-year-old retired pipefitter from Huntington, has decided it’s time to teach the state of West Virginia a lesson in art, architecture, and history. He is considering suing the state.
Morris, who just finished writing an unpublished book on Kanawha County history, is furious that a certain English bulldog, rumored to be the Governor’s pet, has found its way into the “Shivaree of Seneca Rock” mural. He claims this artistic decision was made in a secret meeting that broke all the rules.
Morris, with the help of his attorney, has filed a presuit notice, accusing the state of making “unlawful substantial physical changes” to the Capitol and breaking open government laws. He’s hoping to avoid a lawsuit but is ready to fight if necessary.
Morris, who admits to having no experience in filing lawsuits, has become quite the watchdog of the state’s art projects. He’s demanding a “full accounting” of how these murals came to be and wants to make sure future art projects involve more people than just the Governor’s friends.
The Governor, who apparently only got involved by paying for the murals, was just as surprised as everyone else to see his beloved bulldog in the mural. But don’t worry, he “loves it to death.”
Meanwhile, the artist responsible for the murals has been paid over $348,000 so far, with the project expected to wrap up by November. Morris isn’t backing down, though. He wants a proper, public review of the murals and is calling for changes in how art is handled at the Capitol.
But, as Morris puts it, he has no beef with the bulldog herself—she’s a good girl. His real issues are with the state’s handling of “aesthetics, history, policy, and process.”
