Bowing to a wave of criticism over a gallows-like work intended for its revamped Sculpture Garden, the Walker Art Center will dismantle the piece.

"Scaffold," a two-story-high sculpture, partly inspired by the gallows where 38 Dakota Indians were hanged in Mankato in 1862, prompted an outcry from the state's American Indian communities. It had been set to debut on June 3, along with more than a dozen new works at the Minneapolis center.

While its creator, L.A.-based artist Sam Durant, had intended to raise awareness about capital punishment and address America's violent past, critics and protesters called the work insensitive, saying it trivializes Dakota history and genocide. The outcry intensified Friday and Saturday, both on social media and at the Walker itself, where protesters gathered.

After consulting with Durant, Walker Executive Director Olga Viso said Saturday that she decided the best course of action was to take down "Scaffold."