Group Tries to Save Statehouse Nude Statue

[dr. what]

Oh for fuck's sake...

MONTPELIER, Vt. - A group preparing to celebrate the life of a Vermont-born sculptor is petitioning Gov. James Douglas to leave a replica of Hiram Powers' most famous work — which portrays a nude chained woman — on his Statehouse desk.

The petitioners, who include the wife of U.S. Sen. James Jeffords (news - web sites), say "The Greek Slave" is one of the most important pieces of art ever created by a Vermont native.

The governor wants the lamp that incorporates the replica removed from his office desk during the upcoming legislative session. Douglas spokesman Jason Gibbs said last week the governor was concerned the statue could be broken, but he also said there was concern that school children would see the nude.

Gibbs said Monday the lamp would remain on display at the Statehouse while the Legislature is in session, but not on the governor's desk.

"This wonderful piece of art will continue to enjoy public prominence on display at the Statehouse," Gibbs said. The home of the statue during the session will be determined by the Statehouse curator, Gibbs said.

"We're leaving it to him," Gibbs said.

Liz Jeffords and Polly Billings, wife of a retired federal judge, said they're launching a petition drive to have the governor leave the lamp on the Statehouse desk.

"He was worried about the effect on school children? What better way to teach them about our Constitution, which outlaws slavery," Billings said. "This speaks to Vermont history, abolition and the horror of slavery."

Gibbs said the governor was not concerned about school children seeing the statue. He said his comments last week that it might be hard for the governor to explain a nude statue to schoolchildren were an attempt at levity.

Billings said she was unmoved by the governor's decision to have the statue displayed elsewhere in the Statehouse. "I am going to carry on," she said.

A one-day celebration of Powers' art is planned for his 200th birthday July 29 in Woodstock.

Powers sculpted six versions of "The Greek Slave" between the early 1840s and the late 1860s. The work became a symbol of the abolitionist movement before the Civil War.
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Offensive statue in question that people are worried will warp the minds of children...

[Frank Hipper]

I could imagine it causing awkward questions from children if it portrayed a nude woman with her ankles up around to her ears manipulating her clitorus, but this?

Gimme a fucking break...

[Justforfun000]

It's that idiot nudity taboo again.

You can thank the churches for THAT victorian ingrained bullshit too.

[Lagmonster]

Now, citing 'protect the children!' is a wad of bullshit, and we all know that, but I'll tell you that if I was given an office and it was decorated in a manner that I didn't like for artistic reasons, I'd redecorate, and damn and hell anyone who has a problem with that (although I would suggest that a statue of Hitler or something would be an obvious mistake).

One office - a closed office, not public space in the building - I was given had a piece of 'company' art on the wall which was a modern abstract and which featured all the colours of an unhealthy man's feces. Took me two weeks to get it off the wall, during which I was accused of all manner of censorship and philistine attitudes.

[DPDarkPrimus]

I'd like to have a replica of that.

[Dahak]

I remember a documentary about US suburb housewives doing a tour of Europe.
Among several hilarious points of "criticism" was that Michelangelo's David was nude...

[salm]

that´s the funniest thing i´ve read in several weeks.

[PeZook]

I remember a documentary about US suburb housewives doing a tour of Europe.
Among several hilarious points of "criticism" was that Michelangelo's David was nude...

Well, there is a nude statue of Neptune on the Long Street in Danzig. After complaints from someone (I'm not sure what group lobbied for that particular change), the poor god got a stylized covering lid over his scrotum, fastened in place securely by a rather large screw.

See the mutilation here

I think the statue had the "fish tail" screwed on and removed something like three times by now. Puritanical idiocy isn't just a domain of the USA.

[Aaron]

At the enterance to CFB Kingston there is a giant statue of "Jimmy" (Hermes) sporting a rather large wang. Apperently it used to be a lot bigger, until a previous Base Commanders Wife found it offensive and he had a reduction.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

This is why I consider the modern religious right to be a form of "religious populism"--this didn't even happen in the Victorian Era, where nude statues were quite common and accepted (albeit only because they followed classical lines). A religious movement divested of a conservative aristocracy to guide it simply becomes a mass of reactionary peasants, not entirely unevocative of the Taiping Rebellion in some respects.

[Frank Hipper]

This is why I consider the modern religious right to be a form of "religious populism"--this didn't even happen in the Victorian Era, where nude statues were quite common and accepted (albeit only because they followed classical lines). A religious movement divested of a conservative aristocracy to guide it simply becomes a mass of reactionary peasants, not entirely unevocative of the Taiping Rebellion in some respects.

*Dies laughing*

Oh, Jesus....Taiping Rebellion....fundies..my sides...ohh.....

Marina, from the lightless depths of my soul I thank you for that one!

[HemlockGrey]

Folks, did we all miss the part where it was quite clearly stated that the governor didn't really care about the children? His main concern appears to be that the "statue could be broken," but it could be that for whatever reason he just doesn't want the lamp in his office.

Besides, Vermont is not exactly known for being a bastion of religious fundementalism, as far as I know.

[NecronLord]

This is why I consider the modern religious right to be a form of "religious populism"--this didn't even happen in the Victorian Era, where nude statues were quite common and accepted (albeit only because they followed classical lines). A religious movement divested of a conservative aristocracy to guide it simply becomes a mass of reactionary peasants, not entirely unevocative of the Taiping Rebellion in some respects.

Actually, IIRC there were some minor protests about the Greek Slave when it was first exhibited, but by virtue of clever marketing, it was made to appeal to puritan sensibilities. Yup. Selling nudity to puritans. Kinda like talking an alligator out of its teeth.

Still, your point is a perfectly valid observation.