The owner of Bowen Co. Antiques has taken down its controversial storefront display, which featured a Nazi flag and a bloodied mannequin that had been featured in an attempt to spark social commentary.
Store owner Dan Bowen said the previous display was never meant to communicate hatred, but it was meant to spark action with regard to current issues around the world.
“The original display was a cluster of social media and news, all the news combined into one. I did it to inspire (people to) maybe make a painting one day, or write a book — whatever they’re good at,” he told OrilliaMatters Thursday.
“Whoever’s being murdered and killed, I don’t want that to happen to them,” Bowen said. “I don’t want to see anybody die — Ukrainians, Russians, whoever.”
Bowen said an Orillia resident reached out to him yesterday after seeing the article in OrilliaMatters to begin a dialogue about his display, and to help him put together a display more suited to sparking debate about current events and the war in Ukraine.
“I told them they could (help make a new display), so they did this,” Bowen said, referencing the new display, pictured. “They picked some things out of the store, and I added the globe.”
Bowen said he encourages others to contribute to his display, if they would like to do so, as his original display was meant to get people engaged.
The resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said her goal was “to have the Nazi flag removed and to understand someone who felt misunderstood.”
She said she reached out to Bowen and had a lengthy discussion with him to understand his point of view and engage in thoughtful discourse.
“I was very opposed to the previous window display as a person with close family history to the Holocaust,” she said in a statement. “However, I wanted to approach Dan with empathy and diplomacy to address the situation.
“After talking to him, I was relieved to hear that he does not support the use of Nazi flags. Rather, he feels passionately about provoking conversations on the war in Ukraine. He felt that negative media attention receives more traction then positive stories.”
Given the current political environment, it is important to try to understand one another’s points of view, she said.
“We live in a very divisive political environment right now and so it is important to engage with others in thoughtful discourse,” she said. “Fortunately, this very negative story has turned into something positive by means of conversation and approaching people with respect even when we strongly disagree with their approach. While not always possible, sometimes this can make a difference.”
