City prohibits artist from showing chicken slaughtering exhibit

Lawrence - Amber Hansen, a Kansas-based artist, has been blocked by a city ordinance from slaughtering chickens as part of a controversial art project.

UPI reports that the city ordinance clearly prohibits the harming of animals. A law also states that only domesticated chickens can be kept for the purposes of egg production. According to Gallerist NY, if Hansen were to go ahead with the project, she could face a $1,000 fine and possibly up to six months in prison. Hansen's project was to be called, "The Story of Chickens: A Revolution." Hansen intended to display live chickens in various coops throughout the city. After caring for the birds for about a month, the chickens would then be publicly slaughtered and served as a meal, according to the Associated Press (via Fox 23). Hansen further explains: "By building a relationship with the birds, the project will transform the contemporary view of chickens as merely 'livestock' to the beautiful and unique creatures they are, while promoting alternative and healthy processes of caring for them. If people choose to eat meat, it is an important process to witness and be mindful of. It is a process that takes place on a mass scale every day, and we aren't really allowed to see it." Several animal rights groups have expressed their disapproval of the project. Hansen may still go through with the project to some extent but will likely modify it in order to comply with the laws.