Heathen Artist Crucifies Christ Anew for Easter
Friday, March 30, 2007 at 11:37AM Bottom Line Up Front: An irreverent sculpture of Christ is to be exhibited in a Manhattan hotel this Monday just in time for Holy Week.
For Christians, Lent is a season of preparation for the pinnacle of the religious year, Easter. It leads us through a dessert of fasting, prayer, penance and reflection so that we can more thoroughly anticipate the resurrection that follows the crucifixion. For the world of entertainment and art, however, Lent signifies open season on everything sacred for the Christian as it covers itself beneath the veil of free speech and expression, usually proceeded by a weak preemptive apology of the “didn’t mean to offend anyone” sort.
It actually paints quite an abstract dichotomy between the two views; one adoring and reverent at the foot of the cross; the other spitting on Christ while casting lots for his clothes as he dies.
This is of course nothing new. This year Lent began with James Cameron’s fauxumentary “The Lost Tomb of Jesus”, which tried to *yawn* prove that Jesus was married with a child and challenged his divinity against basic historical fact. Last year it was The DaVinci Code and The Gospel of Judas. NBC’s Will & Grace aired an episode starring Britney Spears called “Cruxi-fixin’s” on April 13 , just before Good Friday. Around the same time, ABC’s Desperate Housewives ran a Catholic smear campaign.
This year in time for Holy Week, which begins next Thursday celebrating the Last Supper, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, so-called artist (or blasphemer) Cosimo Cavallaro revealed his latest creation, “My Sweet Lord” . It is a 6 foot sculpture of a naked Jesus anatomically correct made of chocolate hanging arms stretched out as if on the cross wearing no loin cloth. The exhibit is scheduled to debut after Palm Sunday in Manhattan’s Roger Smith Hotel in New York City, which the anti-defamation group Catholic League leader Bill Donohue referred to as “already morally bankrupt”.
Roger Smith Hotel describes it as “Jesus, the 485,460-calorie Messiah.” Sculptor Cosimo Cavallaro said viewers will be invited to lick it and eat it before it’s taken down on Easter Sunday. What a pervert.
“Artist” Cosimo Cavallaro also painted “The Holy Virgin Mary” splashed in elephant dung in 1999.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue made this statement:
“As I’ve said many times before, Lent is the season for non-believers to sow seeds of doubt about Jesus. What’s scheduled to go on at the Roger Smith Hotel, however, is of a different genre: this is hate speech. And choosing Holy Week—the display opens on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday—makes it a direct in-your-face assault on Christians.
“All those involved are lucky that angry Christians don’t react the way extremist Muslims do when they’re offended—otherwise they may have more than their heads cut off. James Knowles, President and CEO of the Roger Smith Hotel (interestingly, he also calls himself Artist-in-Residence), should be especially grateful. And if he tries to spin this as reverential, then he should substitute Muhammad for Jesus and display him during Ramadan. “
The gallery’s creative director, Matt Semler, who described Donohue’s response as “a Catholic fatwa”, said:
“We’re obviously surprised by the overwhelming response and offense people have taken,” said Semler, adding that the Holy Week timing was an unfortunate coincidence. “We are certainly in the process of trying to figure out what we’re going to do next.”
Oh, the victimization and misunderstanding. As I said, the weak preemptive apology of the “didn’t mean to offend anyone” was anticipated.
Of course the irony is that Christians are taught to turn the other cheek when struck but when Christ is struck, perhaps it is our prerogative to fight back, maybe even our obligation. Maybe its time to be mad as hell and not take it anymore. Perhaps Christ would be moved to see his faithful full of passion and love for him, protecting his sacred sacrifice and guarding his suffering. I for one am willing to take the risk.
Enough is enough. Why do these exhibitionists never crap all over what is important to them? Why are there no edible naked sculptures of Charles Darwin, or a dung smeared Gevara’ Che, or a urine soaked Cosimo Cavallaro? It’s the hypocrisy, stupid.
Pope Benedict told an audience on Wednesday that “Hell is real and eternal.” Cosimo Cavallaro should be nervous about now.
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Amy Proctor
NEW YORK - A planned Holy Week exhibition of a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ was canceled Friday amid a choir of complaining Catholics that included Cardinal Edward Egan.
The “My Sweet Lord” display was shut down by the hotel that houses the Lab Gallery in midtown Manhattan, said Matt Semler, the gallery’s creative director. Semler said he submitted his resignation after officials at the Roger Smith Hotel shut down the show.
The six-foot sculpture was the victim of “a strong-arming from people who haven’t seen the show, seen what we’re doing,” Semler said. “They jumped to conclusions completely contrary to our intentions.”
But word of the confectionary Christ infuriated Catholics, including Egan, who described it as “a sickening display.” Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League, said it was “one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever.”
The hotel and the gallery were overrun Thursday with angry phone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. Semler said the calls included death threats over the work of artist Cosimo Cavallaro, who was described as disappointed by the decision to cancel the display.
“In this situation, the hotel couldn’t continue to be supportive because of a fear for their own safety,” Semler said.
The sculpture was to debut Monday evening, the day after Palm Sunday and just four days before Roman Catholics mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit was planned for Easter Sunday.
The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate, and features Christ with his arms outstretched as if on an invisible cross. Unlike the typical religious portrayal of Christ, the Cavallaro creation does not include a loincloth.
HOOAH!
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Reader Comments (155)
You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above - Deut. 5:6-10.
"What I find odd is how these feisty Muslims, who seek to silence everyone else's right to freedom of speech, exercise it so democratically for themselves. Amy Proctor, September 16, 2006
Good thing they didn't hang a cartoon of Jesus.
I don't get it. What's your point?
"What I find odd is how these feisty Catholics, who seek to silence everyone else's right to freedom of speech, exercise it so democratically for themselves." Ranando, March 30, 2007
What's the difference in this or the Muslims getting upset about cartoons?
I can't wait to hear what you have to say.
Um, you mean because we're not cutting anyone's head off or burning things down? You're kidding, right?
Or do you think Christians shouldn't voice an opinion?
Amy, I wonder what would happen if Christians all of the world would behave a the Muslims do when the prophet is defamed?
I doubt very much that Cosimo is nervous about anything related to this latest of his artistic attack on Christianity. Instead, he's probably worried about what next "artistic expression" he's going to come up with.
I worry about people like this - obviously, they have no decency or regard for other people's beliefs or feelings.
Maybe that guy's next project should be a lifesize statue of Mohammed made from bacon, pork chops and pepperoni. He could even debut it during Rammadan! Bonus points if it unfortunately and coincidentally debuts in Meccha!
Of course, it might be another unfortunate coincidence if a throng of angry Muslims were to attack him, but I'm sure he could just play the "never meant to offend anyone, I'm an artist" card. The Islamic faithful would definitely understand and leave him alone. Right? After all, everyone values a little bit of healthy artistic expression.
Uhh, right?
"What's the difference in this or the Muslims getting upset about cartoons?"
People, mainly Jews and Christians died and churches, homes and businesses were burned and people's lives were threatened, some who lost their lively hoods - people who are in hiding right now, people who are being sued in court.
You must be kidding on this comparison. if not you have no point.
“didn’t mean to offend anyone”
Yeah, try a chocolate and nude sculptor of Muhammad and see what reaction that gets one?
I have Obsessive-Complusive Disorder.
Isn't that the same KEvron with severe OCD issues?
This is so typical.
It goes to prove that today's "secularism" isn't really unbelief in God, but out-and-out hatred of Him.
I'm glad that the hotel came to their senses even if for the wrong reason. It would have been better if they had cancelled because of it being a dispicable and sacreligious display instead of cancelling because they feared fro their own safety.
Thank God for people like Bill Donohue.
I just wonder Ranando, do you really believe the statements you make?
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
oh for goodness sake, don't they ever give up?
Hi guys,
Been silent for a while, but I'm watching you, proctor!!
Just a quick one to ask if any-one can see any artistic merit to this project at all? As I see it:
1) An edible Jesus ties in with transubstanciation
2) A chocolate Jesus ties in with the recent secular Easter festivities
3) Jesus was divine, yet also fully human. He wept, he bled, and I guess he had a full male anatomy. Unless all artistic nudes are obscene, what's the real difference with a nude Jesus? In short, why are we so scared of a cock and balls??
4) I strongly doubt that real people who were Crucified by the Romans wore a loincloth.
I think, this piece expresses something which has irked me for a while about chocolate eggs and bunnies and what on earth that has to do with resurrection etc. It is provocative, but isn't that the point of (some) art? Couldn't this challenge christians to abandon the irrelevent chocolate obsession and concentrate on the passion?
OK, one more question: What is your reaction to the 'artists' who painted clothes over the originally nude figures in the Sistine Chapel?
J.
I've basically been watching this one, too. Okay, it offended the religious, myself included. Why? Because it's a confection meant to be fun and enjoyable while there was nothing fun and enjoyable about the cruxifiction. For another, yes, he had a loincloth, according to the Bible, which was taken and gambled for after his death. In this depiction, Christ is clearly not dead.
Now, as far as the comparison with the Muslims' offended posture over the Danish cartoons, that's a big stretch. They had every right to express their offense just as those other religious people expressed their offense over the chocolate sculpture. However, to use that expressed offense as a pretext to commit violence and murder... well that's a whole different story.
by the way, as far as i know, cavallaro didn't paint the virgin mary, the only similar work i know of is by chris ofili - and, again as far as i know, i think he's a catholic. Have you seen it?
And as for your question, using body materials such as dung, urine, blood etc. in portraits is more common than you think. I can't see I've ever seen Darwin in urine, but plenty have been, even artists' self portraits. Painters have long used more than paint, maybe grasses or twigs from the scene they're painting for example. Physically putting yourself into your painting is a logical extension, I guess.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
In a free market democracy, if there is a market for naked chocolate Jesus art, there should be.
I have a problem with chocolate Easter bunnies myself. Poor bunnies.
You have every right to voice your opinion has you have, and you can even make enough noise to ban the thing, which obviously worked, but I just don't see why, if many Christians are so touchy about this. If your faith is so strong, what is the big deal? Unless you are worried that if you didn't complain, that Jesus would be upset with you...that would be valid, I guess.
I'd still like to see a naked chocolate Mohammed though. That would be priceless.
"Semler said the calls included death threats...."
Of *course* there were, OCD boy. Were the police called? Where are the reports on this?
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Wow, Kevron, you certainly do.
Jez, welcome back, and I'll reply later. I've got a thing or two to say.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
"If your faith is so strong, what is the big deal?"
This is a problem for many and I understand why. For me, yeah, I'm offended but I get offended at a lot of things to do with religion but stopping someone else from doing what they want to do...well...I can only show them a better way. If they choose to do, be, or believe something different, there's not a lot I can do about it is there?
That's a ridiculous argument to say "If your faith is so strong what's the big deal?"
So if your wife, husband, child or parent were publicly exploited and mocked there'd be something wrong if you didn't fight to have it retracted. It's the same principle.
That's just another excuse to continue bashing Christianity. What about Jesus' right to privacy?
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
You keep using the word. "Christians"...
I'm a Christian and I'm not at all upset about this Chocolate Jesus.
When you Google, "Chocolate Jesus". It comes back time after time listing that Catholics are the ones upset about this.
When you say, "Christians" you mean me also and thats not true.
There are many Christians in this World and some are Catholics, not all.
BEAJ:
A chocolate Darwin would sell well too, mainly to fundies...
Seriously, there's a terrible double-standard being applied here: I didn't hear many Christians complain about the Prophet cartoons, rather the opposite.
Bill Donohue sounded like an idiot on CNN (Anderson Cooper): "I will financially ruin you!" What a prat...
So you are not Catholic?
Many Protestants in history funded, helped, supplied and led Islamic terrorists against Catholics. There are countless prime documents in the late middle ages and early modern times that support this. I have a feeling Protestants would not feel invaded by a chocolate Jesus. Then, again, I question their Christianity in lieu of historical evidence.
I’ve also noted banner signs out side Protestant churches in the U.S.A. that call for measures against Republicans and Bush. Many protestant churches are not fans of Republics. They like direct democracies, the type of system Karl Marx proposed to bring power from below to end capitalism and republicanism.
“Seriously, there's a terrible double-standard being applied here”
Not really. The cartoons were not the issue. The issue was free speech and the ability to have free speech. Islam doesn’t allow figures of people to be drawn because they call it idolatry. However, they can draw Republicans and burn them in effigy – it is perfectly alright by their double standards. When they protest they kill people, ruin them, and destroy their lives. There is no comparison or double standard. Why would Christians support Islam anyway? All they do is make war on Christians, or enslave them in history. Islam says that anyone not born of Arab blood become second class citizens, of the likes of the issues described in the problems of civil rights movements. So people that support this ideology, I question if their faculties are suggesting class differentiation based on their concern for an ideology that is racist in origin.
People of Arab blood are not the issue - it is the ideology of the racist component in their religion which is absent in Christianity as a general statement. The media doesn’t study Islam, and schooled Muslims are taught not to divulge their inner teachings of Islam to infidels. Our media is blind to their ideology.
Sweet Jesus, looks like a decent piece of sculpture to me. What's so offensive about it being chocolate?
Actually, I thought it was an homage to thisTom Waits song.
Grumpy,
It's not GOLD, that's what offensive to these Catholics.
Hell, if it was GOLD this guy would be given Sainthood.
Ranando:
Couldn't have said that better myself. Again, your gross ignornance about Catholicism is embarrassing.
grumpy, What's offensive? Jesus was purposely made nude and viewers are invited to lick and eat Jesus. I can't believe this needs explaining.
This is not a Protestant/Catholic issue. It is a Christian issue. Any Christian not offended by this needs to evaluate his faith.
Ranando, if you don't know the difference between an icon and a naked chocolate statue..... well, what else is there to say.
How many people have been burned-at-the-stake by the Catholic Church for not agreeing with their ways or for doing what this guy did?
I do know the difference, chocolate right.
It's not a Icon Amy...
It's a Graven Image, you know the one Jesus spoke about.