TOPEKA, Kan. – A sculpture from Longmont that depicts a Catholic clergyman in a cap bearing resemblance to a penis has drawn angry criticism from people who want it removed from the Washburn University campus.
The piece called “Holier Than Thou” is the work of Jerry Boyle of Longmont. It depicts the upper body of a heavyset man with a contorted face, wearing a tall ecclesiastical cap known as a miter.
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I never thought I’d be nostalgic for Thomas Nast’s crocodile miters (revived by Jeff McNelly a decade or two ago).
Perhaps said artist will sit upon the miter…he should then rise again.
Why, exactly, is this sculpture on display outside where innocent passersby can stumble across it and be offended? It should be in a museum or in a display space of some sort so that only those who wish to view it can do so.
THIS is ART – It’s much less offensive than being in the same lunchroom when a child prays a silent prayer before lunch. It’s much less offensive than a sign that says “God Bless America”. It’s much less offensive than listening to someone say homosexual acts are sins. It’s much less offensive than seeing a nativity scene in a public park during the “winter solstice” holiday season.
It’s art, just like the statue of Mary covered in dung.
We are forced to look at it so by doing so we will all be enlightened.
YIKES.
It shows a paucity of imagination that artists have to resort to shock value, like 10yr olds using swear words in order to get noticed.
Art may not be dead, but it certainly is suffering from a pretty vicious pox lately.